I refer to the letter headlined, 'Dreadful bus drivers should be re-educated', which appeared in the South China Morning Post, on October 4. I was very surprised by the arguments posed in this letter. I think it is only right and proper to present a more accurate picture. Personally, I think that bus services in the SAR are satisfactory. I agree that some bus drivers go too fast and a sudden acceleration can be upsetting for passengers. However, I think such drivers are the exception to the rule. Most drivers appreciate that if they drive recklessly, there could be an accident, and that if there are casualties, they are as likely to sustain an injury as any passenger. Because of this, I believe that most bus drivers drive very carefully. Sometimes, I have seen a driver stop his bus and give way to pedestrians on a busy road. If bus drivers are faster than other drivers, they should not be blamed. As all readers must know, Hong Kong is a commercial city and financial centre. Time is of a premium here. As the saying goes, time is money. In this culture of Hong Kong, people are always in a rush. Take somewhere like Central, where everyone is hurrying somewhere. I am also amazed by those correspondents who say that buses are responsible for the deteriorating air quality in densely populated areas of Hong Kong. This is very unfair to the bus companies. It is obvious that the main cause of air pollution is to do with exhaust emissions from private cars, taxis and minibuses. If we are going to point the finger at anyone, we should be pointing it at the owners of private cars. MAGGIE YIP Pokfulam
