Introduction
Safety issues have arisen following several major accidents involving minibuses. Do you agree that seatbelt use should be mandatory in these vehicles?

Police fight losing battle on bus seat belts
Many passengers fail to buckle up and police say they can do little about it
Elaine Wu
6 June 2005
South China Morning Post

Despite the law that passengers must buckle up when travelling on minibuses, many still shun seat belts for reasons of comfort, convenience or plain old laziness. And there is little that law-enforcement officers can do about it.

Police have been checking on seat-belt use whenever they stop a minibus for traffic violations.

But by the time the officer boards the bus, the commuters have been warned by their drivers to fasten their belts quickly, said Lai Ming-hung, secretary-general of the Hong Kong Public Light Bus Owners and Drivers Association.

"Of course, there are always a few slow ones like the elderly who don't act quickly enough. Then the officer is left with a choice of ticketing the poor old woman or not."

This last-minute compliance does not bother Chief Superintendent Blake Hancock, the head of the traffic police.

"I think for most people, if you're in a car and pulled over, you're trying to make sure you're abiding by all the regulations," he said. "It's human nature. So when a vehicle is pulled over, these passengers will probably [put on] their belts.

"Perhaps that is just as good from a prevention point of view {hellip} I see that as a positive thing. I'm not encouraging that type of behaviour, but anything that persuades or encourages people to abide by the law and safety regulations cannot be a bad thing."

Transport officials pushed for a law requiring passengers of public light buses to wear seat belts after seeing that these buses had the highest accident rate of all vehicle types. They predicted the law could reduce casualties by 20 per cent.

Since the law came into force last August, police have prosecuted six people for failing to wear seat belts. The maximum penalty for the violation is a $5,000 fine and three months' imprisonment.

But that has not stopped passengers leaving their belts unbuckled. Regular minibus riders said they did not wear the belts because they did not feel it would make their ride safer, and did not see others doing it. Further, they did not want the belt to stop them getting off the bus quickly.

"It is uncomfortable to wear seat belts," said Monica Lam, a 52-year-old housewife from Tuen Mun. "I'm not used to it and don't wear one even when I'm in a taxi. If there is an accident, I don't want the belt to get in my way of escaping."

Seat belts have been installed in about a quarter of the city's minibuses - 1,092 out of 4,341. Transport officials predict all buses will have them within eight years.

The number of prosecutions is likely to rise as more buses install belts, but Mr Hancock said checking belts was not a top priority for traffic police. "This is only one of a huge range of offences that we have to look at and prioritise," he said.

no. I don't like to wear seat belts especially those on public transport. It's rather unhygienic, isn't it?

this law didn't apply until two minibuses crushed in an urban street intersecation at 100km/h.
the drivers should be reponsible for driving in a safe manner.

The opposition is being really naive. Seat belts were invented for a reason. They prevent you from being shot out at 50 km/h and exploding yourself against the pavement.

The opposition is being really naive. Seat belts were invented for a reason. They prevent you from being shot out at 50 km/h and exploding yourself against the pavement.

Emergency braking at 50km/h would not throw one out of balance from their seats on a mini-bus, would it? :?

I remember driving at 50km/h was not that fast. But, I do agree that seat belts are necessary to prevent one from being thrown off as well as protecting the person seated in front. It also helps to reduce the liability on the public tpt companies should such unfortunate accidents happen.

Guess prevention is better than cure. Still, I don't like seat belts on public transport. :sleepy:

Even double decker buses usually have seat belts for the front row seats on the top deck.

I would say better safe then sorry so yeah seat belts should be mandatory and if you don't use them you should be given a big fine! :)

Proposal to increase minibus seats rejected
15 June 2007
South China Morning Post

The government refused yesterday to consider allowing green-top minibuses to install more seats in an effort to cut peak-hour congestion, despite claims that the idea had wide support in the community.

The Transport Department said it had no plans for a strategic review of public light bus services as it did not foresee growth in demand because of robust railway development.

But Leung Kong-yui, associate head of the Centre for Logistics and Transport at Hong Kong University SPACE, who made the proposal, said the department was not responsive to calls from the community.

The buses now have 16 seats but have space for 24. If a change were made, it would be the first since the number was increased 20 years ago from 14 to 16.

Mr Leung said the operating environment had changed a lot since the government's most recent review of minibus services 10 years ago.

"There is always a mismatch in the distribution of vehicles and passengers," he said. "Some routes have too many buses and no passengers, while others have too many passengers but few buses."

A spokesman for the department said existing services were sufficient because a survey by the department early this year found that passengers, even on the more popular routes, only waited two minutes on average to catch a bus during peak hours.

But Mr Leung said a survey by his centre showed passengers on popular routes, including between Causeway Bay and Cyberport or Stanley, had to queue for up to 26 minutes during peak hours.

"I don't have to argue with [the department], everyone knows whether two minutes is a normal waiting time for minibus passengers in peak hours," he said.

GMB Maxicab association chairman Hiew Moo-siew, who represents operators of green-top minibuses, said it would be helpful if the government allowed them to increase the number of seats to 24, although it was estimated to cost HK$50,000 to HK$70,000 per bus.

"We are willing to invest the amount because renting red minibuses to meet the demand of our passengers is more costly for us in the long run," he said.

Mr Leung said not all the 2,813 green-top minibuses needed to be modified, just the few dozen that served the busy routes.

He said the proposal was particularly important as existing policy prevented operators from using certain routes, which further limited their flexibility.

Wan Chai District councillor Steve Chan Yiu-fai backed the idea of boosting seat numbers, saying it was a feasible solution for the long queues during evening peak hours.

But the department fears raising the number of seats in green-top minibuses would lengthen passengers' waiting times as drivers might then spend a longer time waiting to pick up passengers.

A spokesman said the trade had maintained a steady market share over the past decade and it would continue to monitor it for any change.

i'm fine with minibuses with seatbelts, but not regular buses.

I guess i'm used to seatbelts. I remember when I firs tmoved to America I got nauseated wearing seatbelts everywhere.

Assuming the drivers don't speed, people will continue to get killed in 50 km/h minibus collisions if they don't wear seat belts in the front.

Whilst I do agree with the idea, isn't this just evading the actual problem at hand?

This is a relief (panadol) as opposed to a cure (antibodies fighting disease).

Drivers' behaviour is the main cause of deadly accidents. In general, green-top is doing a lot better than red-top in term of safety. But of course, seat belt will helps to reduce the degree of injury if any happens like as light as a sudden stop. I agree mini-bus should have seat belt regulation, but not in a full size signle or double decker. It is too time consuming to unbuckle and get off; and what about those 30-50 people that are standing? What are they going to do? It's feasible to do seatbelt on a minibus, definitely not a full size bus.

In term of adding an extra 8 seats in a single vehicle, I don't think it will have a significant impact on resolving the congestion problem. Every two 24-seater vehicles reduce one 16-seater, adding or substracting only a few vehicles on the roads do not help much. Plus the demand is always here, operator will not reduce the number of vehicles per route becuase each vehicle carries more passenger, it is just adding more capacity and reduce the passenger waiting time. The number of vehicles on the road will still be the same. To solve the congestion problem, you need some other solutions, not adding only 8-seat per minibus.

I absoultely support this law and it should be mandatory on instralling THREE-POINT SAFETY BELT.

I agree about the full-size buses. There is not much you can do when so many people are standing. But for minibuses, where everybody can sit, I still think driver safety is only half of the battle.

No matter how safely people drive, accidents will happen, so I strongly support front-seat safety belts on minibuses. I think this is a matter of civic education. The government can list the accident rate of minibuses and the survival rate of such accidents. People will find that front-seaters can easily lose their lives in a collision when not belted.

I agree about the full-size buses. There is not much you can do when so many people are standing. But for minibuses, where everybody can sit, I still think driver safety is only half of the battle.

No matter how safely people drive, accidents will happen, so I strongly support front-seat safety belts on minibuses. I think this is a matter of civic education. The government can list the accident rate of minibuses and the survival rate of such accidents. People will find that front-seaters can easily lose their lives in a collision when not belted.

In passenger car and taxi, it is not just the front-seat passenger should buckle up, even the back-seat passengers should do also. In an accident, the two passengers sit by the doors are not going to fly out the cabinet; but hit the front seat hard. And the middle one is able to fly out the front window. Everyone should wear a seat-belt. Indeed, in HK, it is law all passengers have to wear their seat-belt in the vehicle; or both driver and the passenger will be tickets.

On mini-bus, it is a law also all passengers have to wear the hip-belt whenever available; and all new mini-bus has to equip with a hip-belt in order to get certified. Three-point seat-belt indeed is safer than a hip-belt, but it doesn't work for every one like child and women in pregnancy.

Drivers' behaviour is not just the mini-bus drivers, it's an all road users thing. A lot of the time franchised bus drivers (mini and regular) have very good attitude, but other road users don't and causes accidents. Education, regulation and enforcement all come in to play the safety role.

Talking about the stat of survival change of using seat-belt on mini-bus, I would say there isn't any. There are tons for passenger car, but not buses. Mini-bus is so a unique thing in HK, there isn't much internationally either.

Those front-seat seat-belt on full size buses are place strategically as well as the one in the middle-seat on the last row. Those passengers sit there have the highest chance to fly out in case anything happen. As long as, the passenger wear them, it is a lot safer, but there is requirement they have to do it.

Minibus carnage is just the latest in long line of tragedies
26 July 2009
South China Morning Post

There has been no shortage of fatal accidents in the past few years to remind Hongkongers of the dangers of speeding minibuses.

But the tragedies just keep happening. And yesterday's carnage - which left three dead and two in a critical condition in hospital - is one which has great relevance to unionist lawmaker Wong Kwok-hing.

Mr Wong warned the Legislative Council only last week of the potential for tragedy on the Tuen Mun to Sheung Shui route, which he travels by bus once or twice a week.

While the minibus' speed often cut 10 minutes off a journey which was normally 35 minutes long, the legislator said the experience, as the drivers sent their buses hurtling down the highway, was terrifying as the speedometer hit 90km/h - 10km/h above the limit.

"The first thing I do after finding a seat is fasten the seat belt," Mr Wong said. "Then I grip the handle on the seat in front of me with two hands and brace myself for any emergency, such as sudden braking. I never dare to doze off during the journey but other passengers do. Some don't even wear seat belts."

Yesterday's tragedy was the latest in a long line of minibus-related fatalities. Two women were killed on June 12 when a minibus mounted a pavement in Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Mong Kok, after it collided with a double-decker bus.

Seven other women were injured when the minibus ploughed into a crowd of nine pedestrians on the pavement.

The scene at the accident resembled a war zone, with a Circle K shopfront destroyed and blood staining the pavement. Residents described the location as a traffic black spot where minibuses often drove like "racing cars".

In an accident that spurred an outcry against dangerous driving, two 15-year-old boys were killed by a green minibus that hit their bicycle in Sheung Shui on July 25, 2006.

The two boys were knocked down as they rode the same bike along Jockey Club Road. One boy died at the scene and the other in hospital. The driver was arrested for drink-driving and dangerous driving causing death.

On November 13, 2005, two elderly male passengers were killed when they were catapulted 15 metres out of a minibus which crashed head-on into a truck at Sha Tau Kok. Another four people were injured in the crash. On the same day, 17 people were injured when two minibuses collided head-on at the junction of Repulse Bay Road and Headland Road. Witnesses said both accidents involved minibuses trying to overtake other vehicles.

On October 22, 2004, two minibuses vying for passengers jumped a red light and smashed into a taxi at a junction in North Point, leaving two dead and 18 injured.

The two almost full buses also collided, mowing down a 20-metre stretch of railings, a traffic light and a lamp post before coming to a stop, with one on its side.

Traffic data shows there were 502 speeding cases involving minibuses in the first five months of this year. Last year there were 1,114, almost half the number of 2,051 in 2007.

Transport Department's response on installing speed limiters in public light buses
Monday, August 3, 2009
Government Press Release

In response to media enquiries today (August 3) on the installation of speed limiters on public light buses (PLB), a spokesman for the Transport Department (TD) made the following statement:

The TD and vehicle manufacturers have been actively studying the feasibility of installing speed limiters in minibuses and deem it technically viable. The PLB trade will be consulted at the next trade conference at the end of August or early September. The TD will then conduct studies with vehicle suppliers and hopes to introduce speed limiters in phases by the end of this year to address the public concern about PLB safety.

On the employment terms of green minibus (GMB) drivers, an additional condition has been included in the Passenger Service Licence since 2005, which requires GMB operators to directly employ GMB drivers. Most of the operators have followed this condition, and only a very few of them fail to observe the condition due to contractual or legal problems. The TD will urge them to meet the requirement as soon as possible.

Are GMB more dangerous per journey taken per passenger than driving?

Depends on who's driving lol

It's getting outrageous......
I still can't believe the driver actually hopped on the sidewalk to pass.
4kAr6atDe_s

That driver will get nabbed real quick. EM 1282.

Update: It's on the news LOL

Depends on who's driving lol

Of course it depends on who is driving, but the complete lack of statistics t show that minibuses are in fact more dangerous than other forms of transports probably suggests they are just an easy target for politicians to look pro-active and caring when there is not actually a problem. I have had a quick look but can't see any stats per passenger journey on GMB v cars.

However dangerous or not dangerous travelling in a minibus is, I still think it's reasonable to force people to wear seat belts. After all, it's not only the entire society's benefit to have less serious casualties but also your own.

Video shows minibus driving on footpath
11 August 2009
South China Morning Post

Police are investigating a YouTube video clip that apparently shows a Hong Kong minibus driving onto a footpath to get past a traffic jam at a congested Mong Kok junction.

The clip, which runs for one minute and 25 seconds, shows a red-topped minibus cutting from the right lane of Sai Yee Street into the left lane before joining a queue of vehicles waiting at a traffic light at the junction with Argyle Street.

About 15 seconds later, the passenger-laden minibus tries to drive to its left onto the footpath in front of the Water Supplies Department office. But a motorcyclist beats the minibus and squeezes through the space, followed seconds later by the minibus. Both vehicles travel along the footpath, which is apparently empty, passing about three vehicles before moving back onto the road.

The clip, taken from a vehicle behind the minibus at about 7.40pm on Thursday, shows a woman pedestrian slowing her pace to give way to the minibus mounting the footpath a few metres in front of her.

Cable TV traced the male driver of the Route 71 minibus, which runs between Mong Kok and Hung Hom, identifying him only as Mr Tse. In a telephone interview with a presenter, Mr Tse said it was unusual for him to run onto the pavement. He refused to comment further, saying he was too busy to talk. Cable TV also found the motorcycle's owner, a Mr Lau, who said his vehicle had been borrowed by a friend but the friend could not remember the incident.

Another minibus driver on the same route told Cable TV it was not unusual for drivers upset by traffic jams to drive onto the footpath.

A police spokeswoman said the Kowloon West traffic investigation unit was looking into the case. Police would act if anyone had broken traffic laws. She urged anyone with information about the incident to call police on 2773 5200. She said the drivers involved might have committed offences that could result in jail terms of up to three years.

A Transport Department spokeswoman said the department would send letters to the owner of the minibus concerned and leaders of the trade to remind them about observing traffic regulations.

Another reason why we have to install these ugly fences along the footpath... it isn't because stopping pedestrian from crossing the street at unsafe locations, but to stop motor vehicles to drive on the footpath.

are minibuses more unsafe than cars or taxis?

^^ What if they are? And what if they are not? Surely it's beneficial to wear seat belts rather than not?

Seat belt wearing is not enforced in cars or taxis so why would it be in minibuses? How often whilst driving around can kids with no seat belts be seen standing on the back seats. Suggest enforcement of current laws before introducing new laws that will also be ignored

Seat belt wearing is not enforced in cars or taxis so why would it be in minibuses? How often whilst driving around can kids with no seat belts be seen standing on the back seats. Suggest enforcement of current laws before introducing new laws that will also be ignored

The current law has already required the drivers and all passengers on cars and taxis to wear the seat belt, and so does on the minibus (if it is equipped.)

Tickets will be given to the passengers they were found not wearing the seat belts on taixs and minibus, both passengers and drivers will be ticketed if the passenger is found not wearing the seat belt.

If the passenger choose to ignore the law, s/he will pay the ticket if get caught; or more seriously, his/her own life if an accident occurs. If the driver doesn't remind his/her passenger to buckle up in the private car, the insurance company can decide rather or not to pay the accident claim if something bad happen.

it is not enforced

it is not enforced

It is enforced, with room of improvement.

http://www.police.gov.hk/hkp-home/english/pr/200902/022505.htm?keepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=350&width=600

Like all traffic laws, there is no prevention to stop people from jumping lights, driving without a licence, wearing a seat belt, or drinking and driving. The deterrent is violating the law and a fine / prison sentence. The police have checkpoints now and then, but I don't expect them to block all major roads every day during rush hour to make their point.

A lot of it has to come from the users on the road and self-discipline. You can't expect the world to be perfect by enforcing everything if people don't understand what behaviour is expected from them.

in some developed countries it would rare to see passengers in the back seat not wearing seat belts, in HK most days you see someone.

Well, when I was living abroad, I hear a lot of accidents where people get ejected because they didn't have their seat belts on, especially on long weekends when some alcohol and festivity mix together. Don't think you can generalize across society like that though. I had a taxi driver ask us to buckle up very recently. It certainly isn't something everyone just ignore totally.

in some developed countries it would rare to see passengers in the back seat not wearing seat belts, in HK most days you see someone.

don't know which developed countries you're referring to, but it is still a continuous challenge and campaign to force the driver and front seat passenger to buckle up in the biggest auto-oriented country, the US. the society has not even had the chance to spend the resources to educate the back seat passengers should also buckle up, not to even mention making a law requiring back seat passenger to wear a seat belt.

Why does HK Gov seem to struggle to educate and enforce the wearing of seat belts? US is large with 1000's of mile of lonely highway and therefore difficult to Police. HK has a very high road usage density so should be simpler. Not seen too may Government adverts telling me to 'belt-up' which feels strange.

www.legco.gov.hk/yr99-00/english/panels/tp/papers/a1435e06.pdf
http://www.td.gov.hk/road_safety/road_traffic_accident_statistics/2000/tables_and_charts/group_1_accident_trend/12_motor_vehicle_involvements_and_involvement_rate/index.htm

given probably over 10 passengers per vehicle don't PLB's appear to be relatively safe but an easy political target.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oN-9kzP1FrE/SLfUL5746vI/AAAAAAAAAEo/EAYnDPUKPTU/s1600-h/deaths+per+hour.jpg

Isn't flying the most dangerous per journey taken?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oN-9kzP1FrE/SLfUL5746vI/AAAAAAAAAEo/EAYnDPUKPTU/s1600-h/deaths+per+hour.jpg

Isn't flying the most dangerous per journey taken?

This is surely talking about passenger hours, surely not number of journeys taken?

In fact, air travel is surely the safest in terms of accident rates per passenger kilometre.

Why does HK Gov seem to struggle to educate and enforce the wearing of seat belts? US is large with 1000's of mile of lonely highway and therefore difficult to Police. HK has a very high road usage density so should be simpler. Not seen too may Government adverts telling me to 'belt-up' which feels strange.

Don't under-estimate Hong Kong's roads. It's not possible to monitor every single km for seat belt use. There will always be people who don't listen no matter how many ad campaigns come at them. It's like the drug habit argument.

People won't necessarily be educated if they see ads all over the place. Then we should see all sorts of weird government ads from rubbish dumping to no smoking and the like in place of the Nokia, mooncake, and McDonalds ads we normally see on the streets!

Putting brakes on mishaps
26 August 2009
The Standard

Minibuses will soon be required to install equipment limiting speed at 80km/h.

The speed limiters, which will cost between HK$6,000 and HK$8,000, will be made part of licensing conditions either in the 2010 or 2011 legislative years, government sources said.

The devices will prevent a driver from accelerating past a benchmark speed as a precaution following a spate of deadly accidents involving minibuses.

The sources said three German-made speed limiters have been approved by the government as they meet standards set in the United Nations/Economic Commission for Europe International Vehicle Regulation and the European Community Council Directive.

Higher speed settings will be allowed for green minibuses that need to travel on expressways. About 400 buses serving less than 40 routes can get this exemption, the sources said.

The devices, which will have mechanical and electronic versions, will be sealed to prevent tampering.

The government will be asking minibus manufacturers to help with the installation, the sources said.

The Transport Department is drafting laws that it hopes will be passed by 2011 at the latest which will penalize minibuses not equipped with the devices.

Public Light Bus General Association chairman Ling Chi-keung said they will meet with the department on Friday to discuss the details of the scheme.

``We need to know if the manufacturers will provide maintenance and other details,'' Ling said.

``We also want to discuss a grace period for old minibuses.''

On top of the speed limiters, black boxes similar to those on planes will also be made mandatory for new minibuses, the sources disclosed.

But previous black box trials on old minibuses proved the equipment was susceptible to damage and tinkering.

The sources said new rules on black boxes will ensure they are located in an appropriate location that will protect it from wear and tear and tampering.

Training sessions on driving behavior and attitude for people wanting to enter the trade will also be made available.

On July 27, a minibus collision on the Yuen Long highway killed four and injured 13. Two other women died on June 12 in a Mong Kok crash involving a minibus and a double-decker bus.

^^ Well... it's better than nothing.
This will lower the potential of high speed minibus crashing, but still won't do anything to address the aggressive driving behaviour.

Something happened in MK in June will still occur.

I remember taking a minibus from Chai Wan to Shek O. There's this speedometer display which apparently was jinxed (probably by the driver/owner so that they don't get photos of themselves speeding, presumably), and it remains at "0" for slow speeds.

And it went up to "1" and we were surprised that it's actually "working". Then the minibus went absolutely flying and it went up to "2". We were all quite frightened.

...We went pale when we saw the speedometer reading "3"...

I remember taking a minibus from Chai Wan to Shek O. There's this speedometer display which apparently was jinxed (probably by the driver/owner so that they don't get photos of themselves speeding, presumably), and it remains at "0" for slow speeds.

And it went up to "1" and we were surprised that it's actually "working". Then the minibus went absolutely flying and it went up to "2". We were all quite frightened.

...We went pale when we saw the speedometer reading "3"...

Was it a scaled speedometer?
1 = <50km/h
2 = >50 & <70
3 = >70
Something like that...

My classic was 20 minutes from MK to Aberdeen. Spent the first ten in MK to get through numbers of traffic lights to reach West Kowloon Highway, and then the driver just went nut for rest of the journey. But that was pre-speedometer dates.

Don't see how stopping the gas can make them that much safer. Crashing a minibus into a wall or over the cliff at 50km/h is still bound to be deadly.

Don't see how stopping the gas can make them that much safer. Crashing a minibus into a wall or over the cliff at 50km/h is still bound to be deadly.

Or if it were coming out from the side street in MK at 30km/h without stopping and crashes into a double decker, it could kill many...

This is nothing new. Most franchised buses are locked to travel at maximum speed of 70km/h only, with the exception of expressway use buses.
Singapore is a law to lock all buses (franchised or private) travel speed at 50 or 70 km/h.

But at least it's taking one contribution factor out of the equation, excess speeding. Drives go 90 to 100km/h on 50 or 70 km/h speed limit roadways (e.g. Ching Cheung Road, Clearwater Bay Road, Pokfulam Road) now will no longer be able to drive at excess speed, but force to maintain speed at 80 km/h. Although it's still speeding, but the degree of damage it can do at 80 is far lesser than crashing at 90 or 100.

Braking distance increases in log scale with increasing speed, so although it probably does not lower the severity of a crash, it does lower the number of occurrence.

Watchdog fury at `death wait' over minibus seat belts
22 December 2010
The Standard

The Transport Department has been accused of waiting until someone else is killed before tackling minibus safety.

In a damming report, the Ombudsman said although the 4,350 registered minibuses comprise only 0.76 percent of total road vehicles, they were involved in 5 percent of accidents last year.

Worse still, the number of those killed or injured in minibus accidents accounted for 9 percent of total road casualties in 2009.

The Ombudsman said it was not until two fatal accidents last year that the government announced the mandatory installation of black boxes and speed limiters on minibuses.

However it will take another eight years for all minibuses to be equipped with seat belts, senior investigation officer Denise Wong Wai-fan said.

Several years ago, the Transport Department required all minibuses registered after August 1, 2004, to install seat belts and high back seats. In 2006, the authorities forecast by mid-2008, 60 percent of all minibuses would fulfill the requirement after older vehicles were phased out. However as of September, only 55 percent complied. The Ombudsman estimates that by 2015, there will still be 1,000 minibuses operating without seat belts, and it will take a further three years for these vehicles to be phased out.

``The government should not allow lives to be put at risk,'' Wong said.

Last year, the government proposed requiring minibuses to install black boxes and speed limiters following two accidents that killed six people.

On June 12 last year, a minibus crashed into a double-decker bus before running into pedestrians in Mong Kok, killing two and injuring eight.

The following month, a speeding minibus slammed into the back of a container truck on Yuen Long Highway, killing four and injuring 17.

Wong said the government should not wait to act only after lives are lost. More needs to be urgently done, as minibuses carry more than 1.85 million passengers each day.

The government should insist that even older public light buses install seat belts.

what are the figures on a per passenger KM basis for the roads minibuses travel?