Majority skip belts as new rules click in for the first day

The majority of bus passengers ignore new seat belt rules on the first day of enforcement. 

A recent law mandates that bus passengers must buckle up, with violators facing fines up to HK$5,000 and potential imprisonment for up to three months.

Notices about the regulation have been posted at bus terminals, inside vehicles, and on windscreens, but compliance appears inconsistent. 

At the Shing Mun Tunnel Bus Interchange, most passengers were not wearing seat belts, although some mentioned that they started preparing to disembark early to avoid missing their stops. 

Concerns arose over enforcement, especially regarding plainclothes police checking passengers upon boarding. 

One elderly passenger expressed difficulty in managing to get off, citing weakness and age-related issues, while others, like a family of three, said they were accustomed to wearing seat belts and believed the rules would enhance safety awareness.

Meanwhile, a passenger named Amy affirmed, “I’ve always put the seat belt on for safety—to protect myself." 

Separately, new regulations prohibit drivers from placing more than two mobile devices—such as phones, tablets, or laptops—in front of them while driving. 

Each device must not exceed 19 centimeters diagonally and must not obstruct the driver’s view of the road, traffic, mirrors, or monitoring equipment. Violations carry fines of up to HK$2,000.