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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1982
BUS COMPANIES TOLD TO EXAMINE WORK STANDARDS
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THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT HAS ASKED THE BUS COMPANIES TO EXAMINE THE ADOPTION OF STANDARDS AIMED AT ELIMINATING CERTAIN UNSATISFACTORY WORK SHIFT PATTERNS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.
THESE STANDARDS WILL HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR BUS SCHEDULES, SPECIFICALLY PERIODS AND FREQUENCIES OF OPERATION BECAUSE OF THE EFFECTS ON DRIVERS' DUTY ROSTERS, WHICH IN TURN WILL REQUIRE DECISIONS ON THE BALANCE BETWEEN MAINTAINING STANDARDS OF SERVICE AND INCREASING OPERATING COSTS, MR SCOTT EXPLAINED.
HE WAS REPLYING TO THE HON LYDIA DUNN, WHO ASKED ABOUT GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES ON THE WORK HOURS, SKILL AND BEHAVIOUR OF BUS DRIVERS.
HE ADDED THAT IF THE BUS COMPANIES DO NOT ADOPT THE STANDARDS VOLUNTARILY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE POWER UNDER THE PUBLIC OMNIBUS SERVICES ORDINANCE TO INTRODUCE REGULATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE.
ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF BUS DRIVERS, MR SCOTT EXPLAINED THAT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ENCOURAGES THE BUS COMPANIES TO SET STANDARDS, BUT DOES NOT PRESCRIBE REGULATIONS.
HE ADDED THAT BOTH THE MAJOR COMPANIES HAVE PLAIN CLOTHES SUPERVISORS OUT ON ROUTES CHECKING THE BEHAVIOUR OF DRIVERS AND TAKE DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR REPEATED BREACHES OF COMPANY REGULATIONS.
MR SCOTT POINTED OUT THAT DRIVERS UPON RECRUITMENT BY THE TWO COMPANIES RECEIVE SOME 90 HOURS OF TRAINING BEFORE TAKING THE REQUIRED SKILL TEST AT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
THE PASS RATE FOR THESE DRIVERS IS 90 PER CENT WHICH MR SCOTT CONSIDERED TO BE HIGH.
RESPONDING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON RAYSON HUANG, MR SCOTT REPORTED THAT NINE DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES OVERTURNED IN ACCIDENTS IN THE 12 MONTHS UP TO NOVEMBER 23 THIS YEAR.
IN THREE OF THESE CASES, THE DRIVERS WERE FOUND GUILTY OF DANGEROUS DRIVING AND DISMISSED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS WHILE IN ONE CASE THE COMPANY INVOLVED WAS FINED FOR NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINING THE STEERING OF THE BUS.
THE OTHER FIVE CASES, MR SCOTT SAID, ARE STILL UNDER POLICE INVESTIGATION.
EVERY TYPE OF DOUBLE-DECKER BUS HAS TO PASS A STABILITY OR TILT TEST IN HONG KONG BEFORE IT MAY GO INTO SERVICE, MR SCOTT EXPLAINED.
THE STABILITY OF DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES IS HIGH AND FEW BUSES OVERTURN, COMPARED WITH MOTOR CARS, HE POINTED OUT.
HE ADDED THAT THE MAJOR CAUSE OF VEHICLES OVERTURNING, INCLUDING DOUBLE-DECKER BUSES, IS WHEN THEY HIT OBSTRUCTIONS ON THE GROUND OR GO OFF THE ROAD.
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