■長青公路的嚴重車禍，引起對通宵更司機駕駛安全的關注。資料圖片■Jeffrey Tse (ywc_jeffrey@hotmail.com)
原文
青衣長青公路11月30日發生嚴重車禍，一輛接載航空公司員工的旅遊巴，從後撞上一輛故障的士，造成6人死亡、逾30人受傷，警方懷疑是旅遊巴司機過勞所致。事件提醒社會關注不少問題，包括如何確保夜更尤其是通宵更巴士司機的安全駕駛問題，以及巴士乘客是否佩戴安全帶的重大安全問題。當局須深入調查車禍原因、釐清責任、找出缺失，促使巴士公司對通宵更巴士司機進行更到位、更人性化的管理，並且立法強制要求巴士乘客佩戴安全帶，提升乘客安全保障。
雖然此次車禍的原因尚待調查，但警方指，種種跡象顯示，旅遊巴司機事發時留意不到有的士停在路邊，未能及時剎車導致車禍，很可能是疲勞駕駛所致。凌晨時段往往是嚴重車禍的高發期。本次車禍發生時，旅遊巴司機通宵工作，已連續工作近10小時，正駕駛第三轉車。雖然車禍後，巴士公司指期間司機有短暫休息，但顯然無法釋除公眾對是否疲勞駕駛的疑慮。
眾所周知，通宵工作違背人體生理時鐘的作息規律，人易疲倦，反應相對遲鈍，更何況肇事司機已年逾花甲，接近10小時的通宵駕駛，對乘客、其他道路使用者和自己都構成重大安全風險。專家指在清晨時段，快速公路較為暢通，司機容易不專注，更容易發生意外。因此，巴士公司必須對通宵更司機的工作，給予更合理的照顧和安排，令司機有充足的休息，保持精神集中，降低發生事故的機會。
此次車禍傷亡嚴重的另一原因，是乘客沒有佩戴安全帶，被強大衝擊力拋出車外，導致不幸身亡。本港現時法例只強制私家車、的士、小巴及貨車的乘客須佩戴安全帶，卻未強制要求旅遊巴或巴士的乘客佩戴安全帶。對此，社會早有聲音要求政府立例加強規管，當局須吸取血的教訓，認真考慮立法規管巴士乘客佩戴安全帶，加強對乘客的安全保障。
今次車禍的旅遊巴司機，今年2月曾駕駛員工巴士發生意外，導致16人受傷，被控不小心駕駛。但在發生如此嚴重的車禍後，僅僅一個多星期就復工。公司指當時翻查過該名司機的駕駛記錄，內部調查評估後，認為沒有問題，批准其復工。結果，如今發生更嚴重的車禍，令人質疑，巴士公司對有不良記錄司機的監管過於寬鬆，對乘客不負責。
無獨有偶，年初造成19人死亡的大埔車禍，涉事司機同樣在3年多前有不小心駕駛前科。可見對於有不良記錄的司機，若不從嚴管理，如同在道路上放置定時炸彈。對巴士司機實行更嚴格的審核、管理機制，特別是慎重使用有違規前科的司機，是防範嚴重事故重演的重要環節。
車禍一宗也嫌多，重視道路安全，乘客、巴士公司和政府均有責任。首先，乘客為自身安全着想，應自覺佩戴安全帶；公司應以對乘客安全高度負責的態度，改善服務；政府更應對包括旅遊巴在內的巴士服務進行全面、深入的調查研究，以更嚴謹的監管措施堵塞安全漏洞。防患未然永遠好過亡羊補牢。
（標題為編輯所加）
（摘錄自香港文匯報社評1-12-2018）
譯文
Six people were killed and over 30 injured in a deadly car accident on November 30, when a coach carrying Cathay Pacific Airline employees rammed into a broken-down taxi from behind on Cheung Tsing Highway in Tsing Yi. The police said the coach driver could have been exhausted or overworked.
The accident is a wake-up call on many issues, one of them being the road safety awareness of night shift bus drivers (overnight shifts in particular), and another one being seat belt use on buses and coaches. The authorities must thoroughly investigate what had caused the accident and find out who is responsible, so as to press bus companies into adopting a more appropriate and humane approach in managing their drivers. Also, to further enhance road safety, the government should make it mandatory for passengers of buses and coaches to wear seat belts through legislation.
Although the causes of the accident are still under investigation, the police said there are indications that fatigue is the reason why the coach driver was not aware of the stationary taxi, and why he failed to brake in time. Serious traffic accidents are often more prevalent during the early morning. When the Tsing Yi accident took place, the coach driver, who was on his third ride, had already worked for 10 hours straight overnight. Even though the bus company later explained that the driver had had a short break before the crash, it was clearly not enough to convince the public that the driver was not fatigued.
It is common knowledge that working overnight is disruptive to the natural circadian rhythm of the human body. Normal people who work at night tend to grow tired more easily, and their reflexes are also relatively slower, not to mention a 62-year-old driver. By driving 10 hours overnight, the coach driver had posed a major threat to the safety not only of himself, but also of the passengers and other drivers on the road.
According to experts, road users are often more prone to accidents on highways during early morning hours, as they are less concentrated when the volume of traffic is lower. Therefore, bus companies must pay more attention to the well-being of their overnight drivers and make sure they are fully rested, so that they can remain focused on the road and reduce the chance of traffic accidents.
Another reason for the high casualties in this accident, is that passengers who did not fasten their seat belts were catapulted off the bus on impact. Current legal requirements for passengers to wear seat belts only apply to private cars, taxis, mini buses and goods vehicles. Passengers of coaches and buses are not legally required to fasten their seat belts. Many have voiced their concern and called for stricter seat belt rules on buses over the years. The government should learn the lesson and seriously consider legislation as a means to strengthen passenger safety.
Involved in a similar accident in February where 16 were injured, the coach driver had already been charged with careless driving earlier this year. However, it only took about one week's time for him to return to work after such a serious car accident. The bus company said that they had checked the driving record of the coach driver at the time, and that it was considered okay for him to resume his work after internal investigations. But as an even more serious accident had occurred now, one wonders if the bus company had been irresponsible to passengers for being too lenient on drivers with bad driving records
Coincidentally, the driver involved in the Tai Po deadly bus crash earlier this year also had record of careless driving three years ago. It is obvious that drivers with bad records would become ticking time bombs if they are treated too leniently. A stricter bus driver management mechanism, especially on those who have poor records, is essential to preventing recurrence of accidents.
One single car accident is far too many. Passengers, bus companies and the government all have their share in enhancing road safety. For their own safety's sake, passengers should consciously fasten their seat belts. Bus companies should make passenger safety their first priority and step up their services. The government should also conduct comprehensive reviews on bus and coach services, and fix any loopholes with a more rigorous supervising regime. As the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure.
Exercise
1. 「扒頭」
2. 道路交匯處
3. 打瞌睡
4. 迴旋處
5. 違例駕駛記分制度
Answer
1. overtaking
2. intersection
3. dozing off
4. roundabout
5. Driving-offence Points System