A serious taxi accident occurred on Kwong Fuk Road, Tai Po on Sunday (22nd), resulting in 2 deaths and 8 injuries. A 63-year-old taxi driver was charged with one count of dangerous driving leading to death.
The safety of taxis once again sounded the alarm, causing social concern. Some drivers have been criticized for placing multiple phones in the front of their cars.
The post-80s taxi driver Chen Fuhua drove a taxi for 7 years. He recalled that more than a year after entering the business, the first car accident occurred. A taxi collided with each other, "just hit it in half a second," and "it's all a matter of (phone)."
He said that taxi drivers are quite busy. "We need to see what happens ahead, whether the road signs are changed, and whether there are customers intercepting the car." He expressly opposed the placement of multiple phones in the front of the car, and "all the phones are connected to one passenger." ".
Guan Wohua, another veteran and chairman of the Urban Taxi Drivers Joint Committee, said that in the past, 13 phones were placed on the front of drivers. In the era before smart phones, there were 6 Bluetooth devices. Headphones, ready to be connected at any time, "like playing a game console," criticized: "If you don't set up a car, it's like holding a knife."
▼8.22 Serious taxi accident on Kwong Fuk Road, Tai Po▼
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The taxi industry is not picking up, and the problem of aging drivers has been plagued for a long time.
According to the information submitted by the Hong Kong Government to the Legislative Council at the beginning of this year, the aging problem of taxi drivers has worsened in the past five years. Last year, licensed taxi drivers over 60 years old accounted for half of the total, and even more than 10% were 71 years old or above.
As for the number of traffic accidents involving taxis, according to the analysis of the Hong Kong Government, there were 2,320 accidents involving taxi drivers aged 55 or above last year, nearly double the number of accidents involving taxi drivers under 55.
Chen Fuhua is the person in charge of Tengjun Taxi Management Company. He was only 29 years old when he joined the industry 7 years ago. He started to manage taxis a year later. Currently, there are hundreds of drivers under his umbrella and manage more than a dozen taxis.
Hua Zai believes that a phone in the front of the car is enough. More importantly, it is more important to pick up passengers on the "Lu Street" based on experience and cultivate a good driving attitude. It is not necessary to have a pick-up mentality, and there is no need to pick up passengers. This is only It will make you need to drive longer distances and longer hours in order to earn the money you should have, and you will drive more fatigued in disguise, adding risks.
Chen Fuhua, the person in charge of Tengjun Taxi Management Company, was only 29 years old when he joined the industry 7 years ago. His age group is among the smallest in the industry.
(Photo by Luo Junhao)
Hua Tsai recalled that about a year after he entered the industry, he was distracted by pressing the taxi app when he was "a small road out of the road", but he collided with another taxi and was required to compensate 13,000 yuan.
He reflected afterwards that he shouldn't be distracted by pressing the phone, "click it in half a second and hit it", "it's a matter of (the phone)," and since the beginning, he used less programs to take orders, which only accounted for about 10 to 20% of his income.
He said that many drivers have multiple phones in the front of their cars, but "you need money to buy a phone and get on stage," and "more than one phone can be connected to one customer." Therefore, he thinks that only one phone is enough.
He continued that during the driving period, he was very busy. "We should look forward to what happens, whether the road signs are changed, and whether there are guests intercepting the car." Therefore, when teaching novice drivers, he does not encourage the use of multiple programs. If someone intercepts the car, just do it, just one (phone)."
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Veteran Guan Wohua, a veteran who has been in the industry for about 35 years, said that before the popularity of smart phones, drivers had placed multiple phones in the front of the car and were ready to take orders at any time. The current method is just different.
He continued that the 7 to 8 phones on the front of the car were considered "conservative". He once saw a driver put 13 phones on and 6 Bluetooth headsets, and said bluntly: "Everyone in the house is uncomfortable."
He said that so many calls must be distracted. "Passengers felt dangerous when they saw it." After meeting with government departments, he finally thought that placing two phones was the limit.
▼8.22 Serious taxi accident on Kwong Fuk Road, Tai Po▼
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Guan Wohua said frankly that the problem of taxis is "I can't finish talking about ten days and ten nights." Many phone calls are always derived from making money. The current income is declining. Law enforcement agencies have not actively prosecuted. Some new drivers do not understand the laws and regulations. As a result, Various problems have occurred.
Regarding the traffic accident in Tai Po, he said that there must be something wrong with the accident, but did it reflect other problems behind it?
So far, the driver involved has not spoken out about the incident. He believes that it should not be concluded. Just as the industry has bad attitudes and refusal to load, even if the driver is at fault, is there adequate regulation behind it and is there adequate training for the driver?
Guan Wohua sighed that in the past 30 years, he had discussed and met with the Transport Department to reflect the opinions of the industry. At that time, the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Chen Fan, was only a small staff member of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. Unfortunately, the problems of the industry have not improved for many years.
The 67-year-old is also discouraged that he will no longer participate in the Transport Department meetings, but after the accident, he hopes that the government and society will pay more attention to the taxi industry.
Guan Wo is the chairman of the Urban Taxi Drivers Joint Committee. He is 67 years old and has been driving taxis for about 35 years.
(Photo by Liao Yanxiong)
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