China tightens city bus safety standards

BEIJING - China is to tighten safety standards for public buses and trolleybuses in urban areas after incidents endangering public safety have drawn strong attention.

The standards, which are issued by the Ministry of Transport and will take effect on March 1, stipulate concrete requirements concerning separating the driver's compartment, fire extinguishers for the vehicle and battery compartments, automatic window breakers, passenger door emergency controller and emergency exits.

This came especially after a fistfight between a bus driver and one of his passengers sent the vehicle plunging into a river in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality killing a dozen in October.

To avoid physical contact between bus drivers and passengers, prevent passengers from grabbing the wheel and ensure the driver's safety, the standards set detailed requirements for the installation of the driver compartment's safety facilities.