LettersHow to address ‘culture of speeding’ among Hong Kong bus drivers

Regulations have thus far seem to have only discouraged ‘excessive speeding’, but updated bus technology can be used to discourage speeding as a whole

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Members of the 1,600-strong KMB Employees Union cite a faulty detection system as they call on the bus operator to withdraw about 1,000 warning letters issued to drivers for speeding, in Cheung Sha Wan on January 10. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 1:04pm, 19 Jan 2019Updated: 1:04pm, 19 Jan 2019

In “Withdraw Warnings” (January 11), KMB bus drivers wanted their warning letters for speeding withdrawn, and yet Mr Kwok Chi-sing, the union representative, admitted that “there was a speeding culture among drivers”. One has to have some sympathy for the drivers, as it would appear the Transport Department and bus operators also play a major role in fostering this speeding culture.

The Report of the Independent Review Committee on Hong Kong’s Franchised Bus Service reveals that drivers are only warned in case of “excessive speeding” – 75 or more in a 70km/h zone, or above 54-55 in a 50km/h zone.

This reinforces the speeding culture mentioned by Mr Kwok, that is, normal speeding is OK, but excessive speeding is not. I find it hard to understand why the Transport Department or any company in Hong Kong would permit employees to break the law before warning them against doing so – how would this fit in with the rule of law and corporate social responsibility ethics? I find it even harder to believe that this fact was not the subject of a recommendation by the committee. It appears both the Transport Department and bus operators permit speeding as long as it is not more than 10 per cent over the legal limit.

KMB Employees Union leader Kwok Chi-sing has acknowledged a “culture of speeding” among drivers. Photo: Edmond So

Most drivers in Hong Kong drive at 10km/h over the legal limit and this poor driving culture is based primarily on a belief that speedometers have a 10 per cent over/under allowance provided for in the law, which was true before 2008 and thus speed enforcement levels followed.

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Regulations have thus far seem to have only discouraged ‘excessive speeding’, but updated bus technology can be used to discourage speeding as a whole

Regulations have thus far seem to have only discouraged ‘excessive speeding’, but updated bus technology can be used to discourage speeding as a whole