Hong Kong bus users pack lower decks on first day of new seat belt rule
Passengers concerned that they will not be able to unbuckle in time to alight on short-distance routes, while some still unaware of new regulation
Passengers crowded the lower decks of buses on Sunday out of concern that they would not be able to alight in time on the first day of a new rule mandating seat belt use taking effect, while Hong Kong authorities said they aimed to strengthen safety education initially.
Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said that during the initial period of law enforcement on the rule, her bureau and police would focus on educating people.
“Police will consider the reason, circumstances and the law when enforcing it,” she said.
The police force said its focus would be on education and promoting road safety so that commuters would get into the habit of wearing seat belts.
Lawmaker Mark Chong Ho-fung and a Post reporter took trips on two of the busiest routes in Tuen Mun and found passengers crowding the lower deck of one of the buses, with some residents unaware of the new law on both journeys.
Passengers behaved differently on the MTR’s K54A service, a short-distance route connecting Ching Tin Estate to Siu Hong station, compared with those on KMB’s 261 service, a long-distance route from Sam Shing Estate in Tuen Mun to Fanling.