The government is considering increasing the penalty for dangerous driving resulting in death, the transport chief said yesterday. Transport minister Sarah Liao Sau-tung said it was also looking at measures to improve the monitoring of persistent dangerous drivers and tightening regulations for the hiring of public transport drivers. Her comments came a day after the Court of Appeal raised the jail sentences of minibus drivers, Poon Wing-kay, 30, and Liu Chun-pong, 25, for dangerous driving causing death to the maximum five years. The government appealed against their original sentences of two years for Poon and 21/2 years for Liu. In 2004 the drivers jumped several successive red lights in a race for passengers through North Point before Poon's bus crashed into a taxi and bounced into Liu's bus, which rolled. The accident left two passengers dead and 17 people injured. 'I am very happy the court increased the sentence of the two minibus drivers, especially since one of the drivers has a record of reckless driving,' Dr Liao said. 'We will consider the court's suggestion to raise the maximum penalty for dangerous driving causing death.' The maximum penalty is five years' imprisonment and a fine of HK$50,000. Secretary for Justice Wong Yan-lung said the Department of Justice was examining whether the maximum sentence should be increased. Dr Liao said the government would consider stepping up the monitoring of persistent dangerous drivers, and discuss with public transport operators the possibility of raising safety requirements when hiring drivers. Police today will start a three-week, city-wide operation to deter motorists from bad driving. It will target offences including speeding, dangerous or careless driving, failing to comply with traffic signals and failing to wear a seatbelt. 'Police will spare no effort in tracking down road users who have little regard for their own safety as well as that of other people, especially those engaged in illegal road racing,' a police spokesman said. The enforcement action is also expected to enhance public awareness of road safety. There were 10,991 traffic accidents involving deaths or injury in the first three quarters of this year, a 1.5 per cent drop compared with the same period last year.
