Rising public concern for road safety may prompt the government to impose tighter regulations on local buses and trucks, even though some legislators are against such a move.

Speaking at a meeting of the LegCo panel on transport yesterday, Commissioner for Transport Alan Wong said that just like in planes, "black boxes" could be installed in buses to record all travelling details.

The information it would provide "will help investigators in case of accidents," Wong said. "Newly purchased buses would be the first to get the black boxes, and the entire process is expected to be completed in the next few years."

The transport panel's discussion touched upon providing extra seat belts, too, with legislator Wong Kwok-hing saying they had been installed in all mini-buses, but not in the big ones.

Though the Transport Department will discuss the matter with the bus companies, Alan Wong said the execution of the plan was complicated and could put unnecessary pressure on the bus drivers.

Wong said: "What should the drivers do if passengers refuse to fasten their seat belts? Will such passengers be adjudged guilty of committing an offence? And how should the authorities handle such cases?"

Responding to the government proposals for strengthened safety measures, a spokesperson from the Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) said the company had installed the black boxes in more than 2,600 of its buses.

"So far it's been a successful experiment. We've provided seat belts in more than 1,700 buses as well. It's difficult for the drivers to enforce the regulation, so we've been able to only encourage the passengers to use them," she said.

The Citybus and New World First Bus will install the black boxes in their vehicles too. But providing extra seat belts requires further discussion with the Transport Department, the spokesperson said.

Passengers in general show little enthusiasm towards the idea. In fact, a number of them said they would fasten the seat belts only if they were within the driver's sights or during inclement weather.

"Moving around in a bus is difficult enough and a seat belt adds more trouble, especially if you're carrying shopping bags," an elderly passenger said. "I think children should use them, though."

Recent traffic accidents, especially those caused by reversing trucks, however, may be able to garner more public support for the government's new transport regulations.

Deputy Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Annie Choi said the government would study how safer devices, such as parking censors and video systems, could be used in trucks.

"We will discuss with the sector the feasibility of these devices," Choi said.

The Transport Department will formulate new guidelines for goods vehicles that use the back gear more often and discuss with district councils whether they can be restricted to specified areas.

The Driver Improvement Scheme (DIS) may also be made compulsory for drivers who have committed repeated offences. A consultation period on the proposal will begin at the end of this year.

Harbor Transportation Workers General Union Vice-president Tse Long said installing a video system might not be a feasible proposition because of the high cost.

"For example, a video system can't be attached to the end of a garbage truck," Tse said. "The cost of such a system could be roughly HK$20,000 per vehicle, which is a big amount."

(China Daily HK Edition October 25, 2006)