Speed control on minibuses
- 1. POLS 7050 Public Administration Case Study: Speed control on minibuses LO Kam-wah (09425616) TANG Wai-yip (09409564)
- 2. Red-top minibus ran on pedestrian and the driver finally convicted guilty in court. (Video taken by others and put on Y ou T ube) Three people died at the scene and a fourth in hospital on 25 July 2009 in a Yuen Long crach involving a minibus and a container truck.
- 3. Background of the case 1118 & 1017 minibus related accidents in 2007 & 2008 17 people died & 899 injured in 2007 14 people died & 1603 injured in 2008 Government officials & Transport Advisory Committee (TAC) were discussing the issue since 2002 Measures introduced S eat belts and high-back seats S peed Display Device (SDD) Enhance h ardware of minibuses to reduce n o. of accidents & improve road safety
- 4. However, fatal accident s still occurred nearly once a month Background of the case
- 5. Background of the case According to annual report of Transport Complaints Unit in 2008, 57% and 79% of comlpaints about imporper driving behaviour, misconduct and poor performance of minibus drivers Government’s view: Drivers’ attitude & Speeding were main problems Three new measures will be launched including :_ a) Installation of Speed Limiter s; b) Installation of Black Box es; & c) Mandatory P re-service T raining for new drivers .
- 6. Speed Limiter s Function Limit fuel to engine to control max. speed Objectives Prevent Speeding offence Protect road users, passengers & drivers
- 7. Speed Limiters Advantages Lower opportunity of fatal accidents by speeding Reduced max. speed Lower law enforcement cost Police do not need to pretend passengers to collect speeding evidences
- 8. Speed Limiters Potential Problems Exceeding speed in non-highways For red-top minibus Income decreased for less trips Speeding in non-highways to increase overall speed Increase risk of collision
- 9. Potential Problems Increased opportunity of breaching Road Traffic Ordinance Dashing through cross roads in front of the RED traffic lights Allowing passengers to get on minibuses in restricted areas Recent news : A red- top minibus driver even drove into the pedestrian Speed Limiters
- 10. Technical difficulties Non applicable to vehicles fed by liquefied petroleum gas Shift to drive such vehicles to evade control Only control maximum speed Non applicable for roads with lower speed limits Speed Limiters
- 11. Black Box A device like what installed in aircrafts Record date, time, speed, drivers ’ actions & minibus reactions B etter understanding to what happens when accident s occur
- 12. Black Box Advantage s Simpl e to implement No subsidy will be given by Government Unauthorised alteration to the device commits an offence
- 13. Black Box Potential Problems Unable to prevent accidents caused by speeding Only a data-collecting machine & no effect on driving
- 14. Mandatory Pre-service training for new drivers Apart from PLB Driver Training Course & Driving Improvement Course Compulsory pre-service course before getting minibus driving license E mphasized on :_ R oad safety, passenger safety, driving behaviour & attitude, service skills, handling accidents, emergency vehicle control & road safety regulations Aim : I mprove the driving attitude
- 15. Advantage Educating drivers before they commence business Precautionary measure to avoid imporper driving behaviour & misconduct Mandatory Pre-service training for new drivers
- 16. Potential Problems T he point is: Any motivati on for drivers to commit traffic offences? Any inducement for speeding? Cannot solve the ultimate problem behind Drivers will insist their driving behaviour Mandatory Pre-service training for new drivers
- 17. Main Reason s 1. Salary structure For employees Income = % x (Fare revenue – fuel cost) For sole proprietors Income = Fare revenue – (maintenance & fuel cost) Maximising no. of trips = maximising potential income Rush in every trip
- 18. 2. Bad driving attitude For red-top minibus drivers Problematic salary structure For green-top minibus drivers Want more break between trips Secret part-time jobs Main Reason s
- 19. 3. Wrong concepts Not easily be caught by Police Offences not reported by passengers Main Reason s
- 20. 4. Cost effective for breaching traffic laws Increase in income from law breaking > Fines for breaking laws (∵little chance?) Main Reason s
- 21. Speed Limiter for real problem s Create new potential problems Exceeding speed in non-highways Increased opportunity of breaching Road Traffic Ordinance Technical difficulties Major causes:_ Driving too close to the vehicles in front Careless lane changing
- 23. Black Box for real problem s Black Box functions only after accidents occur Cannot relate the speeds to specific roads Illegal alteration to the device as Speed Display Device (SDD)
- 24. Pre-service training for real problem s Drivers will not strictly adhere to regulations Driver will not follow what they have learnt
- 25. Alternative Solutions Profit sharing scheme & Sole proprietorship (Red-top minibus) Owners only concern profits but not driving behaviour Long-term problem Only long-term solution: Replacing all red-top minibuses by green-top ones Adjusting Salary Structure
- 26. Alternative Solutions External Indic a tor Lights Installed on the top of minibuses Different lights indicate different ranges of speed Alert other road users Police can easily detect the speeding offence Drivers prevent s peeding because Police can eas ily detect
- 27. Alternative Solutions Enhance passengers’ responsibilities Passengers bear repsonsibility on speeding Not report to Police because enjoying advantage B ut blame drivers once a ccidents occur Recommendation: R ewarding system for complaints of successful prosecution Financed by part of fine from traffic offences
- 28. Driving-offence point scheme (max. 18 pts.) Failing to comply with traffic signals : 5 pts. Recommendation: Increase to 10 pts. for same offence in cross roads Alternative Solutions Increase Penalty
- 29. Failure to keep a safe distance from vehicle in front & Careless lane changing Present Offence: Careless driving Recommendation: Specific offences legislation Loss for fine > potential income Alternative Solutions Increase Penalty
- 30. Thank you!