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| The seatbelt buckle on the KMB bus appears to have been cut |
Police were called Wednesday afternoon after a seatbelt was found to have been deliberately cut on a Kowloon Motor Bus plying the Sha Tin to Ma On Shan route.
Two passengers aboard bus 86K
told the driver about the cut seatbelt on one of the upper desk seats when the KMB
bus arrived at the bus terminus in Ma On Shan at around 5pm.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Officers who responded to a
call from the bus company said they considered it a case of criminal damage.
The incident happened four
days after a new regulation mandating passengers to use seatbelts on public and
private buses, took effect.
Offenders are liable to a
maximum fine of $5,000 and up to three months’ imprisonment.
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| The new law presents problems for some passengers who need extra space |
The new law has drawn widespread criticism from passengers who complained of seatbelts that were either dirty, broken, too loose or too tight. Others complained of having to buckle up on short routes.
The public backlash in turn
caused Hong Kong’s major political parties for a review after an adjustment
period of between six to nine months.
Transport Minister Mable Chan
said the department valued the lawmakers’ opinions but stopped short of
responding to a call for a review.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
Instead, she reiterated that
passengers’ safety was behind the new requirement which aligns with common
international practice.
"I want to reiterate
that we understand overall that with the introduction of this regulation,
people need time to adapt," she said. With this in mind she said
enforcement will take into account “legal, rational and humanistic”
considerations.
She said authorities will
work closely with bus companies to promptly address public feedback on
practical concerns, such as seatbelt cleanliness and fit.
Earlier, Chief Executive John
Lee told reporters that the recommendation for mandatory seatbelt use was given
in the review of the tragic bus accident in Tai Po in 2018, which resulted in
19 deaths and 66 injuries.
“I
understand the measure will require a change in behaviour, and passengers may
feel inconvenient at the beginning,” said the CE.
However,
he said studies showed that buckling up could reduce serious injuries by 70 per
cent and deaths by 40 per cent in traffic accidents.
