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Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Hok-ming and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (December 19):
Question:
It has been reported that following a number of fatal traffic accidents in recent years involving reversing heavy vehicles, the Government has been encouraging the installation of reversing video devices (RVDs) in vehicles, but the RVDs in many vehicles are actually illegal installations because they can also play Digital Versatile Discs. It has also been reported that the Transport Department has recommended the public to make an application to the Department before installing such devices.
The relevant trades have criticised the Government for being too harsh in not permitting such television monitors to display visual images that are for entertainment purpose, and the trades are at a loss as the Government has not given clear guidelines on the installation of such devices. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether:
(a) it knows the current numbers of various types of vehicles in Hong Kong with RVDs installed; if it does not have such data, of the reasons for that;
(b) the authorities have widely made known to the vehicle trade and vehicle owners details of the Transport Department's "A Guide for the installation of Devices to Assist Reversing of Goods Vehicles", the above restriction on such devices, and the recommendation that an application should be made to the authorities before installing such devices; and whether the Government had launched any large-scale publicity and promotional activities on such matters last year; and
(c) the authorities will consider relaxing the above restriction; if not, how the authorities resolve the problem that currently the RVDs in many vehicles are illegal installations?
Reply:
Madam President,
Motorists should remain vigilant at all times. They should focus on driving and should avoid being distracted by unnecessary items or information. Equipment installed around the driver's seat should aim to provide assistance to drivers while driving. I believe we all agree that safety is of paramount importance. In accordance with this principle, the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374A)(the Regulations) regulate the visual display unit installed on a motor vehicle. If a visual display unit is designed solely for the purpose of providing information about the current state of the vehicle or its equipment, the view of the vehicle or its surrounding area (including its rear), or information facilitating navigation, such a unit may be installed at a point forward of the driver's seat or other points visible to the driver. Installation of such visual display units (including reversing video devices (RVDs), which facilitate reversing), does not require application to the Transport Department (TD) for prior approval.
My reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
(a) Application to TD for prior approval is not required for installation of reversing video devices. Therefore, we are unable to provide the figures of various types of vehicles currently installed with reversing video devices.
(b) TD has been discussing with the trade on measures to ensure the safety of reversing vehicles. TD issued "A Guide for the Installation of Devices to Assist Reversing of Goods Vehicles" (the Guide) in August this year, and copies were distributed to relevant persons at the licensing offices and vehicle examination centres. The Guide has also been uploaded to TD's webpage for public reference. Apart from that, TD has also targeted its promotion efforts on the goods vehicle trades by introducing the Guide at its regular meetings with the transport trades and goods vehicle driver associations. In addition, TD has distributed and publicised the Guide to other relevant bodies, including the car dealers' associations, vehicle body manufacturers, suppliers of RVD, logistics trade, as well as trades providing concrete mixer, security transport, tanker and pantechnicon services.
TD has also been liaising closely with trade representatives of car dealers and parallel importers on information concerning the restrictions on installation of the visual display unit to ensure that visual display units installed on imported vehicles would comply with the Regulations. Relevant information has also been disseminated on TD's webpage.
(c) It has always been our objective to ensure that drivers pay attention to the road situation at all times to enhance road safety and avoid traffic accidents. If the visual display unit with infotainment broadcasting function is installed at a position visible to the driver, his attention will inevitably be drawn to the infotainment broadcast and he may fail to respond properly to the prevailing road situation. This poses serious threats to the safety of both the driver and other road users. Therefore, the existing Regulations stipulate that the visual display unit with infotainment broadcasting function can only be installed at a position beyond the driver's view. As road safety is our prime concern, we consider it undesirable to relax the restriction.
Upon receiving complaints from the public or referral from the Police about illegal installation of visual display units in vehicles, TD will issue examination orders to the vehicle owners concerned, requiring them to send their vehicles to designated vehicle examination centres for examination. In addition, the Police will continue with their enforcement and prosecution actions against such illegal acts.
Ends/Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:01
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