TNAG-0565-FCO40-660-Construction-of-an-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 123

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 170

IGHTER CONTROL ON OVERCROUDING IN VEHICKES

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AMENDING LEGISLATION WHICH PROVIDES FOR 110RE EFFECTIVE CONTROL ON OVERCLOUDING IN VEHICLES IN ORDER TO ENSURE GREATER SA ETY FOR PASSENGERS, WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LESTOLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.

THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL, GAZETTED TODAY, SECKS TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT REGULATIONS MAY LE MADE RESTRICTING THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS WHO MAY BE CARRIED IN ANY WEHICLE, AND TO MAKE THE VEHICLE OWNER LINDLE FOR THE OFFENCE OF CARRYING EXCESS PASSENGERS.

IT ALSO ENABLES A POLICE OFFICER TO SUPPLY BY CERTIFICATE CERTAIN EVIDENCE RELATING TO PLANS ØR DRAWINGS MADE BY HIM OR TO STATEMENTS MADE TO HIM AS TO THE DRIVER OR OWNER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE ON ARTICULAR OCCASION.

IF THE BILL IS PASSED, IT IS ENVISAGED THAT AMENDMENT REGULATIONS/WILL BE MADE IN RESPECT OF OVERCROWDING IN ON HOUSES SO AS TO IMPOSE LIABILITY ON THE REGISTERED OWNER..

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN/SAID TODAY THAT VEHICLES CARRYING EXCESS PASSENGERS WOULD CREATE A POTENTIAL DANGER TO PASSENG AS AND OTHER ROAD USERS IN THE EVENT OF THE VEHICLE DECOMING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

HE SAID THAT WHILE/DRIVERS COULD DE SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED UNDER THE EXISTING LEGISLATION ON OVERCROWDING OMNIBUSES, THIS WAS CONSIDERED UNLIKELY TO REME VY TLE SITUATION/AS THE OWNER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTROL AND OPERATION OF TIM DUS SERVICE AND THE DISCIPLINE OF ITS STAFF.

DRIVERS OF ONE-MAN-OPERATED BUSES HAVE LITTLE SCOPE FOR CONTROLLING BOARDING PASSENGERS AT LUSY BUS/STOPS AND THIS HAS TO BE DONE DY REGULATORS EMPLOYED BY THE OPERATOR, HE SAID.

IN ORDER TO/PROVIDE A MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROL THUS ENSURING GREATER SAFETY FOR PASSENGERS, THE AMENDING BILL MAKES IT CLEAR THAT WHERE A VEHICLE CARRIES EXCESS PASSENGERS THE REGISTERED OWNER IS LIABLE FOR THE OFFENCE, HE SAID.

AT THE SAME TIME, HE ADDED, THE TWO MAJOR BUS COMPANIES HAVE PROGRAMMES FOR DUYING ADDITIONAL SUGES VIIICH SHOULD GO FURTHER TO KEETING THẺ DEMANDS OF THE TRAVELLING PJELIC.

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AS TO THE PROPOSED PRODUCTION OF FORMAL EVIDENCE BY CERTIFI CATE, THE SPOKESHAH SAID THIS WOUD SERVE TO CUT DOWN THE COURT'S TIME AND TO/MINIMISE THE INCIDE ITS REQUIRING THE DIRECT EVIDENCE OF POLICE OFFICERS WHO COULD DE MORE USEFU LY EMPLOYED ON OTHER DUTIES.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, EVIDENCE BY CERTIFICATE WOULD NOT PRECLUDE THE CALL ILS OF A POLICE OFFICER TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN PERSON SHOULD HIS EVIDELCE DE CONTESTED.

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