TNAG-1856-FCO40-2631-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 152

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

香港立法局

28 June 1989

一九八九年六月二十八日

16

Headlamps and stop lights on vehicles

5. MR. POON CHI-FAI asked: Since the installation of additional dazzling headlamps or stop lights to some vehicles by their owners may cause serious hazards to the safety of other road users, will Government inform this Council:

(i) whether such installation is in accordance with the safety standards and

whether prior approval is required;

(ii) whether stipulation will be made by the authorities to the effect that approval will be required for the installation or addition of fittings to certain categories of vehicles; and

(iii)what measures will be taken to prevent the situation from deteriorating

further?

SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT: Sir, while the present legislation does not prohibit the installation of additional headlamps, rear lamps or stop lamps, safety standards are laid down in the following regulations.

Regulation 47(1)(a) of the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations requires that the lamps lighted at the front of a vehicle shall be dipped when it is being used on a road where a system of street lights is in operation or in the face of approaching traffic. Regulation 90 of the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations requires vehicles to carry front lamps so constructed that the beam of light emitted is at all times a dipped beam. As regards head lamps, consideration is being given to amend the principal regulations to specify the highest and lowest parts of the illuminated area of a head lamp. This would prevent the fitment of head lamps which are too high and may adversely affect other road users.

As for rear lamps, regulation 47(2)(b) of the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations makes it an offence to show to the rear any illuminated device which would tend to distract the attention of the driver of a following vehicle. The Tenth Schedule to the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations further requires that the maximum wattage for stop lamps must not be more than 36 watts.