Opinion | Rules review needed after another bus tragedy
- Suggested safety measures, including capping the working hours of drivers and installing alert systems on vehicles, should also be quickly put in place
Hong Kong’s extensive road network and compact size means that emergencies should be swiftly dealt with. But that did not happen when a truck broke down in a middle lane of the West Kowloon Highway mid-morning on Monday about half a kilometre from the Western Harbour Tunnel entrance.
About 45 minutes after it stalled, police and a tow truck still not having arrived, a bus operated by Citybus ploughed into the back of the stranded vehicle, killing both drivers and injuring 16 passengers. There is a need to review road safety rules and regulations.
The police investigation will hopefully determine why the Citybus driver, with a good record and highly experienced, was unable to avoid colliding with the truck.
A video taken from a passing vehicle raises a number of questions, but it is wrong to rush to conclusions without knowing the circumstances. It shows the truck driver at the back of his vehicle and police believe he was trying to alert others of his predicament.
Transport Department guidelines do not recommend such action, instead saying that if drivers cannot get their vehicles off the road, they and any passengers should stay inside with seat belts fastened or stand on the shoulder until emergency services arrive.