[KMB fatal car accident] Transport Department says completion of bus route risk assessment within one year

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Written by: Huang Weilun, Hou Cailin

2019-12-19 10:30

The KMB crashed a tree yesterday (18th) on Fanling Highway, causing 6 deaths and 39 injuries. Huang Zhiguang, assistant director of the Transport Department, said that KMB had been contacted to submit a report as soon as possible. As for the accidental route 978 of the bus, the Transport Department did not receive a report from KMB that special road conditions needed to be followed up.

The Vice-Chairman of the Legislative Council Panel on Transport, Chen Henghuan, believes that there may be problems with the management of trees on some expressways, such as excessively long branches, or trees that have been tilted to affect roads. He also said that there are sometimes harmful tree species planted on the highway, which can easily fall down and may affect the health of other trees. He also suggested that all vehicles should be equipped with driving recorders as soon as possible.

Chen Hengyi believes that there may be problems with tree management on the expressway. (Profile picture)

Assistant Commissioner for Transport, Mr Wong Chi-kwong, said today (19) on the Hong Kong and Taiwan programme "Millennium" that KMB had been contacted and asked to submit a report as soon as possible and to liaise closely with the police. As for the 978 bus route involved, the Transport Department has not received any special road conditions that need to be followed up. The risk assessment of bus routes in Hong Kong will be completed within one year, that is, the bus companies need to regularly check the road conditions such as road vehicles and trees.

The Government has also made 45 recommendations on bus safety earlier. Huang Zhiguang pointed out that most of the safety recommendations have been implemented or are being implemented. Taking the installation of safety devices as an example, Huang Zhiguang pointed out that since August last year, safety belts have been installed in all seats of 400 new buses, and electronic stability control systems and speed limiters have been installed. It is expected to be in the upper seat of 700 buses next year. Install safety belts and safety devices, and expect to install safety devices on most buses within three years.

Chen Hengzheng suggested that a traffic recorder be installed on the bus in the commercial program "Departure on a Sunny Day" to record the situation inside and outside the car. When an accident occurs, the cause of the accident can be known. He continued that the Transport Department had set up a franchised bus safety committee after the KMB bus overturned on Tai Po Highway last year, and has held 3 meetings so far. It also talked about the traffic recorder and hopes to gradually Implemented to retrofit old buses.

Chen Hengquan also believes that some highway trees may have problems, including harmful tree species, affecting the health of other trees, and easy to fall, so it is not suitable to be planted beside the highway. He also said that sometimes the branches grow too long, or the trees have been inclined to affect the road. However, he continued, some trees have been around for many years, and "there is no reason to remove them." Someone should regularly evaluate and trim them.

After the Tai Po accident, the government set up an independent review committee for franchised bus services in Hong Kong, and then made 45 recommendations on bus safety. Chen Hengzheng said that the content should be implemented as soon as possible, and the Legislative Council Panel on Transport believes that bus safety matters will be followed up as soon as February next year. I hope that government departments can prepare information for follow-up.

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