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?

Police operation against failure to wear seat belts on public light buses
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Government Press Release

Police conducted a territory-wide operation yesterday (February 21) to reinforce the wearing of seatbelts on public light bus (PLB) as part of ongoing efforts to encourage both drivers and passengers to protect themselves from injury.

The operation started in the early morning and ended at midnight yesterday and resulted in the issue of 16 verbal warnings and 244 summonses to PLB passengers. In addition, four verbal warnings and 19 Fixed Penalty Tickets were issued to PLB drivers for failing to wear seatbelts.

In 2011, there were a total of 1 087 traffic accidents involving PLBs, resulting in 1 814 casualties. There was a decrease of 0.7 per cent and an increase of 0.3 per cent respectively when compared with 1 095 traffic accidents and 1 808 casualties in 2010.

Police stressed that it is the personal responsibility of both the passengers and drivers to ensure that they are securely fastened to their seats by means of a seatbelt where one is fitted. A passenger or a driver who is found not wearing a seatbelt on a PLB is subject to a maximum fine of $5,000 and three months’ imprisonment.

"The Force is committed to taking proactive action to reduce deaths and injuries arising from traffic accidents. Education, publicity and enforcement will continue to be conducted to enhance road safety," a Police spokesman said.

Police Report No. 208

紅巴撞紅巴22人浴血
2012年03月11日(日)
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揸車用「Handfree」煲手機闖禍！一名重操故業僅兩周的小巴司機，昨午駕駛紅頂小巴入西貢，至白沙灣失控剷過對面線，與另一輛紅頂小巴迎頭猛撼，意外導致二十二人受傷，其中被撞小巴司機一度被夾車內，當救出時，因現場交通癱瘓，他需由直升機送院搶救。事後有乘客踢爆小巴當時車速頗高，但有人仍用免提裝置「煲手機」，幸肇事時各人戴上安全帶，否則傷亡慘重。

現場白沙灣孟公窩路，昨午三時許，姓陳司機（四十九歲）駕駛由觀塘開往西貢的紅頂小巴，沿西貢公路行駛，至上址時突然失控越過雙白線，撞向對面線一輛由西貢開往旺角的紅頂小巴。由於衝力猛烈，兩架小巴車頭嚴重毀壞，車頭擋風玻璃整塊脫落，小巴上部分座椅被撞毀，車窗爆裂，不少乘客血流披面，在車內痛苦呻吟。

司機多處骨折

由於現場車禍傷者眾多，消防處出動七輛消防車及十四輛救護車到場，分別將兩名司機、十二男乘客及十名女乘客送往五間醫院救治，其中五人重傷，十七人輕傷。其中被撞的姓岑小巴司機（三十八歲）下半身一度被軚盤夾住，身體多處骨折，消防員需拉開車身將他救出，由醫管局緊急醫療隊醫生到場為他急救，其後由救護車送到對面海水警基地，再由直升機送東區醫院。

由於被撞小巴在意外後漏油，消防一度出動消防喉戒備，事後有工人用木糠清理油漬。受意外影響，警方一度封閉西貢公路來回線，令現場交通陷入癱瘓，往西貢方向行車線至下午五時許才重新開放。

據肇事小巴的乘客透露，事發時小巴車速頗高，司機駕駛期間不斷用免提裝置講電話；另有坐在前排的乘客表示，事發時車廂內一片混亂，更頻呼好彩：「好彩個個乘客都有戴安全帶，如果唔係咁樣撞法，實飛咗出車！」據悉，肇事司機早年曾駕駛該線路小巴，後來離職，至兩周前才重新入職，豈料昨日便出事。

公共小巴限時速80公里
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2012年03月30日(五)

【本報訊】 立法會昨日通過修訂《道路交通條例》，加強規管公共小巴安全，包括限制所有小巴車速上限為八十公里、強制小巴安裝車速限制器、規定新登記小巴加裝俗稱「黑盒」的車速數據紀錄儀，以及強制新入職小巴司機修讀職前課程等。

運輸及房屋局局長鄭汝樺指出，小巴的意外率及傷亡率相較其他公共交通工具高，希望新措施能有助降低發生意外的機會及意外的嚴重性。

They need to do more than just limit the new ones. Either they need to make sure that all fleet are upgraded and then limited (because some of the current vehicles used are SHIT) or they need to limit ALL of the current ones too.

New measures to enhance safe operation of public light buses to take effect tomorrow
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Government Press Release

The Government will publish in the Gazette tomorrow (April 13) the Road Traffic (Amendment) Ordinance 2012, which aims to provide the necessary statutory provisions for introducing a package of measures to enhance the safety of public light bus (PLB) operation and the quality of PLB services. The Ordinance will take effect on the same day.

A Government spokesman said today (April 12), "With a view to achieving continuous improvement in the safety of PLB operation and the quality of its services, the Government has introduced a package of measures to deter driving malpractices and the speeding behaviour of some PLB drivers, and to better control and regulate the speed of PLBs."

The Ordinance imposes a maximum speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour (km/h) for PLBs. It also mandates the installation of approved speed limiters on all PLBs. Since June 2010, the Transport Department (TD) has introduced administrative measures through new licensing conditions to require the installation of speed limiters on PLBs. By the end of 2011, all PLBs had already been installed with speed limiters. Through the Ordinance, it is stipulated in the legislation that all PLBs must have a speed limiter as a standard requirement, and that using a PLB with a malfunctioning speed limiter or tampering with a speed limiter would constitute an offence.

"The above measures should effectively deter speeding behaviour by PLB drivers, thereby further improving the safety of PLB operation," the spokesman said.

"Although the maximum speed limit is set at 80km/h, PLB drivers will still be subject to any speed limit indicated on the traffic signs on the road sections concerned, which may be lower than 80km/h. Offenders will be liable to a fine of $4,000 and will also incur Driving-offence Points. Those driving in excess of the speed limit by more than 45km/h will, in addition, be subject to driving disqualification of not less than six months as well as mandatory attendance and completion of a driving improvement course," the spokesman stressed.

"Contravention of the requirements relating to speed limiters, such as using a PLB without an approved speed limiter or with an approved speed limiter which is not maintained in good and efficient working order, constitutes an offence. Offenders will be liable to a fine of $10,000 and to imprisonment for six months. Tampering with a speed limiter, such as interfering with its proper operation without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, is an offence with the same penalty."

The Ordinance includes electronic data recording devices (EDRDs) (commonly called black boxes) as the basic equipment of PLBs. The types of PLBs to which this requirement will apply is to be specified by the Secretary for Transport and Housing in a new schedule. Installation of EDRDs will facilitate fleet management and deter PLB drivers from improper driving. The Government would follow up with EDRD suppliers as soon as possible with a view to completing the design modification, testing, approval, production and installation of EDRDs. Once the TD is satisfied that there are suitable EDRD models in the market that can fully meet the requirements set out in the Ordinance, the Government will introduce the necessary subsidiary legislation for negative vetting by the Legislative Council in order to implement the requirements for installing EDRDs on all newly registered PLBs. The above work is expected to finish by the second quarter of 2013. The Ordinance also empowers the TD and the Police to retrieve data stored in EDRDs, and provides for the use of the data retrieved by the Police as evidence in any criminal proceedings.

The Ordinance requires applicants for a PLB driving licence to attend and complete a pre-service course in order to be eligible for the licence. The TD will select and designate pre-service training schools, and will work out the code of practice, which includes the course content, the qualifications of the course instructors, the school facilities and the issuance of certificates, for the school operators to follow. A commencement notice will then be made to bring into operation the requirements for applicants for a PLB driving licence to attend and complete a pre-service course. The above work is expected to be finished by the first quarter of 2013.

The Ordinance also requires the display of PLB driver identity plates by PLB drivers, and makes failure to comply with the requirement an offence.

"Currently, an applicant for a PLB driving licence is required to pass the relevant driving test without the need to attend any pre-service training. The requirement to attend a pre-service course and display a driver identity plate will help enhance the quality of PLB services," the spokesman said.

Upon the coming into effect of the Ordinance, the TD and the Police will take law enforcement actions concerning the maximum speed limit for PLBs, the installation of speed limiters and the display of PLB driver identity plates.

小巴今起限速裝黑盒
2012年04月13日(五)
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【本報訊】政府對公共小巴訂立最高每小時八十公里的車速限制，以及強制所有公共小巴安裝認可的車速限制器的條例今日生效，運輸署及警方會隨即展開公共小巴最高車速、安裝車速限制器及展示司機證的執法工作。相關的《2012年道路交通(修訂)條例》會於今日刊憲。

政府發言人強調，違反與車速限制器相關的規定，如使用沒有安裝認可車速限制器的公共小巴，或使用已安裝認可車速限制器，但限制器未能保持於良好及有效的狀態的公共小巴，均屬違法。違例者可被處罰款一萬元及監禁六個月。另如在沒有合法權限或合理辯解下，干擾車速限制器的正常操作，罰則相同。

條例亦把電子數據記錄儀（俗稱「黑盒」），列為公共小巴的其中一項基本裝備。政府發言人指政府會盡快與記錄儀供應商跟進，務求早日完成記錄儀的設計修改、測試、審批、生產和安裝工作。政府會向立法會提交所需的附屬法例，以先訂立後審議的程序，實施在新登記公共小巴安裝記錄儀的規定，有關工作預計可於明年第二季完成。

此外，條例規定申請公共小巴駕駛執照的人士，均須修習並完成職前課程，才可獲發執照，而公共小巴司機則需在小巴上展示司機證。

Drivers held after smash
The Standard
Friday, April 27, 2012

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The drivers of two minibuses that crashed into each other - injuring 13 people - have been arrested for dangerous driving.

The incident happened at 5.40am yesterday near Western District police station. Police suspect the drivers - named Tao and So - rammed into each other while trying to jump a red light.

The impact of the collision caused one of the minibuses to flip on its side in the middle of the road.

Five men and eight women, aged between 22 and 66, sustained injuries on their legs and arms. Twelve were taken to hospital. Witnesses said they heard a loud crashing sound.

The impact sent So's minibus across a tram line five meters away while Tao's vehicle crashed against a lamp post.