Hong Kong urged to expand driver-monitoring systems to reduce traffic accidents

Hong Kong urged to expand driver-monitoring systems to reduce traffic accidents Calls come as government studies extending bus monitoring systems to other vehicles and data shows rise in accidents involving elderly taxi drivers 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 private cars, in particular, should be equipped with pre-crash systems to further reduce accidents. Lawmaker Mark Chong Ho-fung also urged authorities to look beyond newly registered franchised buses and require existing fleets to be retrofitted with driver-monitoring technology within a specified time frame. 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.