Public views sought on banning of aggressive bull bars

The Government is consulting public views on its intention to ban all in-use and new aggressive bull bars fitted to the front of all on-road vehicles to improve safety to all road users.

Announcing details of the plan, a Transport Department spokesman said bull bars were fence-like attachments fitted onto or close to vehicle bumpers. They were designed to give further protection to the vehicle for off-road uses especially in wild and remote areas.

"Unfortunately, because of the grating shape of the bull bars and the fact that they are mostly harder than the vehicle body, they are likely to inflict more injuries to other road users than if they are not fitted should accidents occur, " he said.

"The potential danger of the front bull bar is much higher than the rear, by the reason that most pedestrian injuries are normally caused by frontal impact. It is believed that some pedestrians who were killed or maimed in low speed accidents involving vehicles fitted with steel bars could otherwise have escaped serious injury.

"The bull bars are particularly dangerous in accidents involving young children, as the main heavy-duty cross bar is at head height. "

The spokesman said the danger was rising with the increase in use of aggressive bull bars which had become the trend.

European vehicle manufacturers have agreed to ban rigid bull bars from fitting onto their vehicles effective from January 1, 2002.

"To improve safety to all road users, we therefore propose to ban all aggressive bull bars fitted to the front of all on-road vehicles," the spokesman added.

Regulation 36 of Road Traffic (Construction & Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations, Cap 374 sub leg A stipulates that "No mascot or other unnecessary attachment shall be carried by a motor vehicle in any position where it is likely to strike any person with whom the vehicle may collide unless the mascot or attachment is not liable to cause injury to such person by reason of any projection thereon".

Enforcement shall be through regular and ad hoc vehicle inspections such as mandatory annual inspections, call-up inspections, and roadside inspection. Section 80(1)(b) of Road Traffic Ordinance Cap 374 allows a police officer to cause a vehicle to be examined by a vehicle examiner if he considers that the vehicle does not comply with Cap 374.

On examination of a vehicle, if the vehicle examiner considers that the vehicle does not comply with Cap 374, he may issue a vehicle repair order or refer the vehicle to a specially authorized vehicle examiner (if he is of the view that the use of the vehicle on the road would be dangerous to other road users) requiring the owner to remove the bull bar from the vehicle.

If a repair order is not complied with, the Commissioner for Transport may cancel the licence of vehicle under Section 25(1)(b)(ii) of Cap 374.

"Complaint and reports from the public and enforcement officers shall continue to be an effective channel to reinforce enforcement of the concerned regulations," the spokesman said.

Members of the public are welcome to express views on the proposal. All views expressed shall be considered for the fine-tuning of the final proposal.

Comments could be sent to the Transport Department via email address kmlaw@td.gov.hk or in written form to "Room 3402, 34/F., Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong" for the attention of Mr K M LAW, Engineer (Motor Vehicle Planning).

The Department aims to enforce the ban on all new vehicles from June 2002 and all vehicles from June 2003.

End/Thursday, January 17, 2002