The Transport & Housing Bureau says there is no justification to restrict bus passengers from sitting on upper-deck seats.

In a Legislative Council paper submitted today the bureau said as all franchised buses have met safety requirements and passed Transport Department inspections, and improvement measures are being taken on both the pre-1997 and post-1997 design buses, the proposed restriction is not justified.

Safety upgrades

The bureau said franchised bus companies have been working to further enhance bus safety, such as by:

* retrofitting black boxes on existing buses for completion by 2010;

* providing seat belts for exposed seats of all new buses;

* retrofitting seat belts for the front row upper deck of post-1997 design buses;

* installing an additional horizontal guardrail across the upper deck windscreen of pre-1997 design buses;

* improving working hours of drivers;

* deploying more buses with seat belts for exposed seats to operate on expressways; and,

* advancing the replacement of pre-1997 design buses.

Design review

Manufacturers have proposed strengthening the anchorage of the upper deck front three rows of seats by adding stronger plates and bolts and adding additional front guard rails integrated with the bus's body structure.

The department is liaising with bus companies on the improvements.

Bus companies will arrange regular checks on driver behaviour and take appropriate disciplinary action on improper driving. They are also considering conducting roadside checks at junctions.