以下是立法會會議上盧偉國議員的提問和運輸及房屋局局長張炳良教授的書面回覆：
問題：
據報，去年九月十四日，一輛行駛中的吊臂車的吊臂撞及離地6米的行車路線指示牌，導致交通癱瘓兩個多小時；而在不足一個月後，又有一輛行駛中的吊臂車的吊臂勾斷輕便鐵路系統的兩條架空電纜，導致輕便鐵路服務受阻數小時。有關吊臂車的道路安全，政府可否告知本會：
（一）過去五年，有多少宗涉及吊臂未收合妥當的吊臂車的交通意外及其引致的傷亡人數；
（二）會否收緊規管吊臂車在道路上行駛的安全措施；若會，詳情為何；若否，原因為何；及
（三）鑑於有工程業人士指出，在吊臂車上裝置警告閃燈提醒司機和吊臂操作員注意吊臂的高度，可減少意外的發生，當局有否考慮規定所有吊臂車加裝該項安全設備；若有，詳情及實施時間表為何；若否，原因為何？
答覆：
主席：
我現謹就盧偉國議員問題的各個部分答覆如下：
（一）根據運輸署記錄，過去五年（由二○○八年一月至二○一三年十一月）期間，只有一宗涉及吊臂車在運作時發生的輕微交通意外，當中有一人受輕傷。運輸署並沒有備存不涉及傷亡的交通意外記錄。
（二）及（三）就吊臂車在道路上行駛的安全要求，現時已有適當的規管。在道路上行駛的所有商用車輛（包括吊臂車）必須在首次登記前及之後的每年進行並通過車輛檢驗，以確保車輛適宜於道路上使用，以及裝設在車輛上的流動工業設備已安裝穩固。香港法例第374A章《道路交通（車輛構造及保養）規例》第6條亦規定，吊臂車在行駛時的總高度（包括車輛上的負載物及設備）不可超越4.6米。此外，吊臂車的吊臂操作員必須符合香港法例第59章《工廠及工業經營條例》的訓練及資格規定。吊臂操作員應在吊運後把吊臂收摺，以免超過4.6米的高度限制。
假如吊臂車車主需要為其吊臂操作安裝警告閃燈，運輸署可以在接獲申請後根據香港法例第374A章《道路交通（車輛構造及保養）規例》第111條容許汽車上安裝一盞或多盞發出琥珀色光的警告閃燈。
在執法方面，現時香港法例第374G章《道路交通（交通管制）規例》第58條已規定，司機須確保在道路上的汽車、其一切部分及附件，以及負載物不會對任何人造成或相當可能造成危險，亦不會對道路或對公共或私人財產造成或相當可能造成損害，否則便屬違法。如屬首次被定罪，可處罰款5,000元及監禁3個月。就提問所指的兩宗個案，警方已完成調查首宗在二○一三年九月發生的個案，並會檢控有關司機。至於在二○一三年十月發生的個案，警方仍在調查中。
另外，運輸署會以宣傳及教育方式，提醒吊臂車車主、司機及吊臂操作員多加留意及遵守安全使用貨車的規例。運輸署與貨車業界定期舉行會議，並不時編印「貨車運輸通訊」，向業界宣揚安全駕駛吊臂車及使用吊臂的信息。
鑑於現時就吊臂車在道路上行駛的安全措施已有適當的規管，而運輸署亦有對業界作出宣傳及教育，因此政府沒有計劃收緊吊臂車在道路上行駛的安全要求，但會繼續注意有關情況。
Following is a question by Ir Dr Hon Lo Wai-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, in the Legislative Council:
Question:
It has been reported that on September 14 of last year, the crane of a crane lorry in motion hit a directional sign which was six metres above the ground, paralyzing the traffic for more than two hours, and less than a month later, the crane of another crane lorry running on the road snapped two overhead cables of the Light Rail System, causing disruption of the Light Rail service for several hours. Regarding road safety involving crane lorries, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of traffic accidents in the past five years involving crane lorries the cranes of which had not been folded properly and the resultant casualties;
(b) whether it will tighten the safety measures for regulating crane lorries running on the road; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) as some members of the engineering sector have pointed out that fitting warning flashers on crane lorries to remind drivers and crane operators to pay attention to the height of the crane may reduce accidents, whether the authorities have considered requiring that all crane lorries be fitted with such safety device; if they have, of the details and the implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the various parts of the question raised by Ir Dr Hon Lo Wai-kwok is as follows:
(a) According to the record of the Transport Department (TD), in the past five years (from January 2008 to November 2013), there was only one minor traffic accident involving crane lorries while in operation, causing minor injury to one person. TD does not maintain the record of traffic accidents not involving casualties.
(b) and (c) Appropriate regulations are already in place to ensure the safety requirements for crane lorries running on roads. All commercial vehicles (including crane lorries) running on roads must undergo and pass the vehicle examination prior to the first registration of the vehicles and annually thereafter in order to ensure that the vehicles are roadworthy and only on-board mobile industrial equipment is securely installed. It is also stipulated under regulation 6 of the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap 374A) that the overall height of a crane lorry when running on roads (including the load and equipment it carries) must not exceed 4.6 metres. In addition, crane operators of crane lorries must comply with the training and qualification requirements as stipulated under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (Cap 59). After lifting operation, crane operators should fold the crane to avoid exceeding the height limit of 4.6 metres.
If a crane lorry owner needs to install warning flash lamps for his crane operation, he can apply to TD which may, upon receipt of his application, permit one or more warning flash lamps showing amber light to be installed on his vehicle in accordance with regulation 111 of the Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap 374A).
Regarding enforcement actions, regulation 58 of the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap 374G) provides that the driver of a motor vehicle on a road shall ensure that the motor vehicle, all its parts and accessories, and its load shall be such that no danger is caused or is likely to be caused to any person; or no damage is caused or is likely to be caused to a road or to public or private property. Otherwise, he commits an offence and is liable to a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for three months on first conviction. Regarding the two cases mentioned in the question, the Police have already completed investigation on the first case happened in September 2013 and will prosecute the driver concerned. As for the case happened in October 2013, police investigation is still underway.
Moreover, TD will remind crane lorry owners, drivers and crane operators to take greater heed of and observe the safety regulations on the use of lorries through publicity and education. TD regularly meets with the goods vehicle trade and issues the "Goods Vehicle Trade Newsletter" from time to time to promulgate messages on the safe operation of crane lorries and safe use of cranes.
Given that appropriate safety measures to regulate crane lorries running on roads have already been in place and that TD communicates with the trade via publicity and education, the Government has no plan to tighten the safety measures for crane lorries running on roads but will continue to monitor the situation.
