Safety first
We refer to the letter from Mr Tom Warden, which appeared in the South China Morning Post, on March 31, regarding the attitude of a bus captain of Route No 219X.
KMB is committed to providing a safe and reliable bus service to commuters. Our prime concern is the safety of passengers and other road users. We have put much emphasis on this when training our bus captains and it is laid down in our instructions to all bus captains that they must drive with care at all times. Mr Warden mentioned that on March 17, at about 1.30pm, he approached the Laguna City Bus Terminus and observed a route No 219X bus just departing the terminus.
As informed by Mr Warden, the said bus captain did not stop the bus for him despite his efforts in signal-ling. With much concern for this case, we immediately alerted our Bus Captain Discipline Section and requested immediate action.
According to records and an interview with the bus captain concerned, we learned that her bus departed Laguna City Bus Terminus at 1.23pm after completing the boarding of passengers. She had signalled and pulled out of the bus bay. Judging from the angle of passenger safety and position of the bus at the time, that is, pulling away from the bus terminus in Laguna City, we believe that the bus captain concerned should not be held responsible for not opening the door to board a passenger. On occasions, vehicles or other buses may come rapidly close to a bus just departing from its designated bus stop; under such circumstances, the opening of the bus door to board a passenger would greatly endanger the safety of both passenger and other road users. In viewing this case, we hope Mr Warden will understand that our primary concern has been the safety of passengers.
Nevertheless, we will remind and advise the bus captain concerned to pick up latecomers whenever the bus capacity allows and the situation is appropriately in line with our safety principle.
WINNIE NG Public Relations Manager The Kowloon Motor Bus Co Ltd
