POLS 7050

Public Administration

Case Study: Speed control on minibuses

LO Kam-wah (09425616)

TANG Wai-yip (09409564)

Red-top minibus ran on pedestrian and the driver finally convicted guilty in court. (Video taken by others and put on You Tube)

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.

Background of the caseBackground 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 Seat belts and high-back seats Speed Display Device (SDD)

Enhance hardware of minibuses to reduce no. of accidents &

improve road safety

However, fatal accidents still occurred nearly once a month

Background of the caseBackground of the case

Background of the caseBackground 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 Limiters;

b) Installation of Black Boxes; &

c) Mandatory Pre-service Training for new drivers.

Speed LimitersSpeed Limiters

FunctionFunction

Limit fuel to engine to control max. speedLimit fuel to engine to control max. speed

ObjectivesObjectives

Prevent Speeding offencePrevent Speeding offence

Protect road users, passengers & driversProtect road users, passengers & drivers

Speed LimitersSpeed Limiters

AdvantagesAdvantages

Lower opportunity of fatal accidents by Lower opportunity of fatal accidents by speedingspeeding

Reduced max. speedReduced max. speed

Lower law enforcement costLower law enforcement cost

Police do not need to pretend passengers Police do not need to pretend passengers to collect speeding evidencesto collect speeding evidences

Speed LimitersSpeed Limiters

Potential ProblemsPotential Problems

Exceeding speed in non-highwaysExceeding speed in non-highways

For red-top minibusFor red-top minibus

Income decreased for less tripsIncome decreased for less trips

Speeding in non-highways to increase Speeding in non-highways to increase overall speedoverall speed

Increase risk of collisionIncrease risk of collision

Potential ProblemsPotential Problems

Increased opportunity of breaching Road Increased opportunity of breaching Road Traffic OrdinanceTraffic Ordinance

Dashing through cross roads in front of the Dashing through cross roads in front of the RED traffic lightsRED traffic lights

Allowing passengers to get on minibuses in Allowing passengers to get on minibuses in restricted areasrestricted areas

Recent news : A red-top minibus driver even Recent news : A red-top minibus driver even drove into the pedestriandrove into the pedestrian

Speed LimitersSpeed Limiters

Technical difficultiesTechnical difficulties

Non applicable to vehicles fed by liquefied Non applicable to vehicles fed by liquefied petroleum gaspetroleum gas

Shift to drive such vehicles to evade controlShift to drive such vehicles to evade control

Only control maximum speedOnly control maximum speed

Non applicable for roads with lower speed Non applicable for roads with lower speed limitslimits

Speed LimitersSpeed Limiters

Black BoxBlack Box

A device like what installed in aircrafts

Record date, time, speed, drivers’ actions &

minibus reactions

Better understanding to what happens when accidents occur

Black BoxBlack Box

Advantages

Simple to implement

No subsidy will be given by Government

Unauthorised alteration to the device commits an offence

Black BoxBlack Box

Potential Problems

Unable to prevent accidents caused by speeding

Only a data-collecting machine & no effect on driving

Mandatory Pre-service training Mandatory Pre-service training forfor new driversnew drivers Apart from PLB Driver Training Course & Driving Improvement Course

Compulsory pre-service course before getting minibus driving license

Emphasized on:_ Road safety, passenger safety, driving behaviour & attitude, service skills, handling accidents, emergency vehicle control & road safety regulations

Aim : Improve the driving attitude

Advantage

Educating drivers before they commence business

Precautionary measure to avoid imporper driving behaviour & misconduct

Mandatory Pre-service training Mandatory Pre-service training forfor new driversnew drivers

Potential Problems The point is:

Any motivation 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 Mandatory Pre-service training forfor new driversnew drivers

Main ReasonsMain Reasons

1. Salary structure1. Salary structure For employeesFor employees

Income = % x (Fare revenue Income = % x (Fare revenue –– fuel cost) fuel cost) For sole proprietorsFor sole proprietors

Income = Fare revenue Income = Fare revenue –– (maintenance (maintenance & fuel cost)& fuel cost)

Maximising no. of trips = Maximising no. of trips = maximising potential incomemaximising potential income

Rush in every tripRush in every trip

2. Bad driving attitude2. Bad driving attitude For red-top minibus driversFor red-top minibus drivers

Problematic salary structureProblematic salary structure

For green-top minibus driversFor green-top minibus drivers Want more break between tripsWant more break between trips

Secret part-time jobsSecret part-time jobs

Main ReasonsMain Reasons

3. Wrong concepts

Not easily be caught by Police

Offences not reported by passengers

Main ReasonsMain Reasons

4. Cost effective for breaching traffic laws

Increase in income from law breaking

> Fines for breaking laws (∵little

chance?)

Main ReasonsMain Reasons

Speed Limiter for real Speed Limiter for real problemsproblems Create new potential problems

Exceeding speed in non-highways Increased opportunity of breaching Road

Traffic Ordinance Technical difficulties

Major causes:_Major causes:_ Driving too close to the vehicles in front Driving too close to the vehicles in front

Careless lane changingCareless lane changing

Black Box for real problemsBlack Box for real problems

Black Box functions only after accidents occur

Cannot relate the speeds to specific roads

Illegal alteration to the device as Speed Display Device (SDD)

Pre-service training for real problemsPre-service training for real problems

Drivers will not strictly adhere to regulations

Driver will not follow what they have learnt

Alternative SolutionsAlternative Solutions

Profit sharing scheme & Sole proprietorship (Red-top minibus) Owners only concern profits but not

driving behaviour Long-term problem

Only long-term solution:Only long-term solution: Replacing all red-top minibuses by green-Replacing all red-top minibuses by green-

top onestop ones

Adjusting Salary Structure

External Indicator 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 speeding because Police can easily detect

Alternative SolutionsAlternative Solutions

Enhance passengers’ responsibilities

Passengers bear repsonsibility on speeding

Not report to Police because enjoying advantage

But blame drivers once accidents occur

Recommendation: Recommendation: Rewarding system for complaints of successful prRewarding system for complaints of successful prosecutionosecution

Financed by part of fine from traffic offencesFinanced by part of fine from traffic offences

Alternative SolutionsAlternative Solutions

Driving-offence point scheme (max. 18 pts.) Failing to comply with traffic signals : 5

pts.

Recommendation:Recommendation: Increase to 10 pts. for same offence in Increase to 10 pts. for same offence in

cross roadscross roads

Increase Penalty

Alternative SolutionsAlternative Solutions

Failure to keep a safe distance from vehicle in front & Careless lane changing

Present Offence: Careless driving

Recommendation:Recommendation: Specific offences legislationSpecific offences legislation

Loss for fine > potential incomeLoss for fine > potential income

Increase Penalty

Alternative SolutionsAlternative Solutions

Thank you!Thank you!