Amended regulations on use of vehicle headlamps take effect from July 1

In order to enhance road safety, drivers of motor vehicles are required by the law to turn on the main headlamps during the hours of darkness or in poor visibility conditions; and motorcyclists should turn on the main headlamps of their motor cycles at all times while driving with effect from July 1, 2002.

Engineer of Transport Department, Mr Yau Kwok-ting today (June 27) explained in a press briefing The Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulation 2002 and The Road Traffic (Traffic Control) (Amendment) Regulation 2002 for implementing the measures.

Mr Yau said: "The amendments which clearly stipulating that drivers have to turn on the headlamps during the hours of darkness or in poor visibility conditions allowed them to have a better view at night time, and to make their vehicles more conspicuous to other road users."

The existing regulations have already required drivers to turn on the lamps at the front and rear of the vehicles during the hours of darkness (including dusk and dawn) or in poor visibility conditions. However, front lamps are defined as including both small front lamps and headlamps.

"It is a common practice among some drivers, in particular those of commercial vehicles, to turn on only the small front lamps at night.

"It is highly undesirable from the road safety point of view. There have been complaints about vehicles not turning on their main headlamps during night time, making them difficult to be seen," he said.

Mr Yau said an analysis of the involvement of vehicles in night time injury accidents indicated that there was a significant increase from 48 cases in 1997 to 142 cases in 2001 in the number of accidents involving vehicles with only small front lamps turned on.

"In addition, many developed countries such as Australia, the USA and Singapore have legislation requiring main headlamps to be switched on during the hours of darkness or when the visibility is poor. The amendments can bring our legislation in line with common practices overseas," he said.

For motorcycles, Mr Yau noted they warranted special consideration as they were smaller in size and less conspicuous in the traffic stream.

"In order to enhance road safety, it is further stipulated that motorcyclists should turn on the main headlamps of their motorcycles at all times while driving," Mr Yau said.

On amendments relating to the use of vehicle hazard warning lights, starting from July 1, a driver must turn on the hazard warning lights if his motor vehicle is likely to be a hazard to other road users whether it is stationary or in motion; and if his motor vehicle breaks down or stops for emergency reason on an expressway or a road with a speed limit exceeding 50 kilometre/hour.

Mr Yau said: "Under the existing regulations, no person shall show a hazard warning light on a vehicle on a road unless such vehicle is stationary and likely to be a hazard to other road users."

"It is a common practice for many drivers to switch on the hazard warning lights when their vehicles are likely to be a hazard to other road users, for example, when parking or making sudden deceleration because of congestion ahead.

"This practice contravenes the existing regulation although it should be encouraged as a safety measure," Mr Yau said.

He said the Road Safety Council hence proposed deleting the "stationary" requirement in the existing legislation for drivers to take earlier action to slow down where prevailing traffic conditions dictated.

Contravention of the relevant provisions of the amended regulations is liable to a fine of $5,000 and three-month imprisonment on first conviction; and a fine of $10,000 and six-month imprisonment on second or subsequent conviction.

Mr Yau added that there would be no grace period for Police's enforcement of the amended regulations.

Members of the public can dial TD hotline 2804 2600 or Citizen's Easy Link 1823 for enquiries about the use of motor vehicle lights. Relevant information is also available at TD's website http://www.info.gov.hk/td.

End/Thursday, June 27, 2002