The Hong Kong government should expand its planned mandate for driver-monitoring systems on public buses to other modes of transport and upgrade road infrastructure as part of a multipronged strategy to cut down on traffic accidents, industry leaders have said.
The remarks on Thursday followed authorities’ revelation a day earlier of a plan submitted to the Legislative Council to leverage technology to boost road safety. The Transport Department is set to conduct an in-depth study on the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of extending driver-monitoring systems to other vehicle types.
“The mandatory installation of driver-monitoring systems could eventually be expanded to other private and commercial vehicles,” said James Kong, chairman of the Institute of Advanced Motorists Hong Kong.
He added that a phased approach should be adopted, with passenger-carrying commercial vehicles given priority.
He also suggested that commercial vehicles, in particular, should be equipped with anti-rear-end collision systems to further reduce accidents.
Lawmaker Mark Chong Ho-fung also urged authorities to look beyond newly registered franchised buses.
Fellow lawmaker Ben Chan Han-pan said curbing traffic accidents required a comprehensive strategy that went beyond tracking driver behaviour to include upgrading road infrastructure.
