HONG KONG: Green minibus drivers who are paid regular salaries have been shown to be almost twice as likely to be involved in serious road mishaps, as their commission-paid counterparts. The finding is based on government statistics covering the first half of this year.

Transport Department figures released Friday showed that in the first six months, 20 out of every 1,000 green minibuses driven by operators on regular salaries or basic wages and fixed allowances were involved in serious and fatal traffic collisions.

The figure on drivers solely paid on a revenue-sharing basis stood at 11.5 while that on drivers paid basic wages plus shared revenue reached 17.2 in the same period, the government said.

"The revenue sharing basis does not necessarily affect adversely the safety of public light bus operation," the Transport and Housing Bureau told the Legislative Council's transport panel in its latest document.

The study came after media reports suggested that the revenue-sharing pay system may prompt some drivers to speed in order to complete their routes faster and serve more commuters.

Department figures showed drivers of about 85 percent of green minibus routes receive monthly salaries or basic wages plus fixed allowances such as overtime pay. Another 9 percent are paid basic wages plus shared revenue, while some 6 percent work solely on a revenue sharing basis.

Taxi and Public Light Bus Concern Group chairman Lai Ming-hung said he still prefers a monthly pay system because he believes it serves to protect the safety of passengers.

"Why do some red minibuses tend to speed? Why do some drivers behave not so well? It's because they run on a self-financed basis. The more they work, the more they earn," he said.

Currently, the routes, fare levels and frequency of red minibuses are not subject to the department's control while the services of green minibuses are regulated by authorities.

Lai called on minibus operators to give a year-end bonus, equivalent to one month's pay, to drivers with no record of accidents, as a reward for maintaining high safety standards.

"Operators can avert losses if their drivers steer safely and are never involved in traffic accidents," he said.

The bureau noted the Transport Department plans to require all minibuses to be fitted with equipment limiting speeds to 80 kilometers per hour. The regulations will come into effect when the operators renew their licenses beginning early next year.

Since vehicle licenses are valid for one year, the government expects that by early 2011, all minibuses will be equipped with speed limiters.

But Lai said he plans to challenge the government's decision by way of a judicial review, because he considers it unfair to impose speed limiters only on minibuses rather than on all public transport vehicles.

The government expedited its plan to impose new regulations following a spate of deadly accidents involving minibuses.

The transport panel will discuss the issues next Friday.

(HK Edition 11/21/2009 page1)