HONG KONG: The number of speeding cases during the first 11 months of this year along Po Shun Road, where a fatal bus crash occurred early Monday, has almost doubled the number of cases recorded in 2008.

A total of 2,996 speeding cases were prosecuted by police from January to November for violations along the artery connecting Po Lam and Tseung Kwan O Town Centre, as compared to 1,466 in 2008.

The figures were disclosed by police during yesterday's meeting with Sai Kung District Council and Department of Transport to review the road safety in the area .

Ling Man-hoi, convenor of Sai Kung District Road Safety Campaign Working Group, said the high numbers reflect a problem in the attitudes of motorists.

"The accident has served a warning on the whole society," Ling said.

He urged the police to step up prosecution against speeding by installing more surveillance equipment, such as laser speed guns.

Wong Chi-hung, a senior engineer of the Transport Department, said after yesterday's meeting that the department may add double white lines at the Po Shun Road roundabout.

"Before motorists enter the roundabout and after they exit it, they would have to wait longer before choosing to cut to a faster lane," he said.

With additional traffic signs, the white double lines will remind motorists to slow down before making the turn, he said.

Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng met public bus company representatives yesterday afternoon to discuss measures to improve bus safety.

She told reporters after the meeting that the bus companies have agreed to step up enforcement of traffic violation monitoring - especially on night shifts and at roads with a history of accidents and heighten awareness about the penalties.

Much effort has been spent on probing the cause after the route 692 double-decker, operated by Kowloon Motor Bus Company, flipped over when making a right turn from Po Shun Road to Tong Ming Street at about 12:20 am on Monday. The accident killed a 17-year-old girl and injured 35, including six who are still in critical condition in hospital.

Like most public buses, the bus involved in the accident had a speed limiting device and a black box that records speed and other data to assist in accident investigations.

All of the safety measures, however, failed to prevent Monday's tragedy. The speed limiting device regulates only the maximum speed, not the speed at which a bus may enter a turn.

As at 11 am yesterday, 19 of the injured passengers remained in hospital.

Eight-year-old Sze Ching-ho, who suffered a serious head injury as well as an injury to his left arm, has been transferred from Tseung Kwan O to the better-equipped Queen Mary Hospital at the request of his family.

His father Sze Wing-kwok told reporters that doctors haven't decided when to operate on his son because his injuries need to be thoroughly cleaned.

He said tissues have to be moved from other parts of the boy's body to make up for loss of flesh on his hand and head.

"But he's being strong. He's a positive and optimistic boy," Sze said, sporting a swollen right eye and bandages on his forehead and chin. Also on the bus, Sze and his wife suffered injuries. "He's been asking when he can go back to school," he said.

(HK Edition 11/11/2009 page1)