ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read. 6.02 p.m.

The Minister for Communications and Acting Minister for Culture (Mr Ong Teng Cheong): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The purpose of this Bill is to empower the Registrar of Vehicles to levy fees for inspection of vehicles. At present, commercial vehicles such as lorries, buses and taxis have to undergo scheduled inspections at the Registry of Vehicles. They are checked to ensure they are mechanically sound and safe for the roads. If any defects are found, such as faulty brakes or smoky exhaust, they have to be corrected by the owners and brought back to the ROV for inspection a second time or even a third time, if necessary, until all the defects have been rectified.

These inspections are currently carried out free of charge. However, with effect from 1st July, 1980, only the first inspection will remain free. Fees will be imposed on the second and subsequent repeat inspections. The rates are currently being worked out.

Ideally, vehicles which are well-maintained and in good mechanical condition should pass the inspection without any need to return to the ROV until its next scheduled inspection falls due. Unfortunately, the current free service has made some operators lax in maintaining their vehicles. As a result, very few vehicles pass the inspection at the first attempt. Our statistics show that only 20% of the total commercial vehicles inspected passed the first time. Although about two-thirds of the remainder passed after the second inspection, some return for as many as six or seven repeat inspections, This is wasteful because the ROV has to have the resources to conduct 130,000 inspections a year, when only half of this number would have sufficed. Fees for repeat inspections will not only put a stop to this wastefulness but also encourage owners to pay more attention to maintenance of their vehicles and ensure more vehicles pass the inspection at the first attempt.

This move is in line with Government's policy to reduce pollution as poorly maintained vehicles tend to emit excessive smoke. With more and more commercial vehicles coming on to the road, it is necessary to introduce stringent measures to ensure that our environment does not deteriorate. For this reason, the ROV will step up enforcement against vehicles with smoky exhausts. To facilitate this action, the ROV has purchased portable equipment to check vehicles on the spot instead of escorting them back to the Inspection Centre as is being done now.

From January 1982, all diesel-powered vehicles will also have to undergo a compulsory smoke test mid-way between their scheduled inspections. A special smoke test centre will be built to carry this out. With cooperation from all vehicle owners, we hope to reduce pollution on the roads and improve the quality of our environment.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Ong Teng Cheong].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment: read a Third time and passed.