SPEED LIMIT FOR LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon asked the Minister for Communications and Information if he will consider lifting the speed limit for light commercial vehicles to that for private cars.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications and Information (Mr Ho Kah Leong) (for the Minister for Communications and Information): Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of my Minister.

Sir, the primary purpose of a light goods vehicle (LGV) is to transport goods up to a maximum laden weight of three tonnes. Laden goods bring about additional hazards both for the vehicle driver as well as other road users, eg:

1. Laden goods may obstruct the driver's view of the rear;

2. They may cause the overall weight of the vehicle to be unevenly distributed;

3. Because of the heavier weight, the vehicle will require longer braking distance; and

4. In the event of sudden stops, goods may fall out of the vehicle thereby causing additional dangers to other road users.

Sir, in any road accident, the likelihood of severe injuries or death increases with the speed and total weight of the vehicle involved. To ensure greater safety and to compensate for these additional hazards, the speed limit of light goods vehicles has been set at 50 kph.

Sir, even with this speed limit, the proportion of accidents involving LGVs has been high. In 1984, the accident rate for LGVs is 2.6 accidents per 100 vehicles. Stringent enforcement of speed limit has brought this down to 1.8 accidents per 100 vehicles in 1987. This is still higher than the corresponding figure for cars, at 1.7 per 100 vehicles. It is in the public interest that the speed limit of LGVs be maintained.