Hong Kong proposes 2-device cap on car dashboards, with HK$2,000 fine for offenders in safety push
- All new buses and minibuses will require seat belts and it will be compulsory for passengers to use them if the proposal is adopted
- Mandatory use of helmets for riders of bicycles, tricycles and motorcycle sidecars also being considered
Hong Kong drivers will face a maximum fine of HK$2,000 (US$255) if they place more than two phones on the dashboards of their vehicles under a proposal to tighten safety rules.
The Transport and Logistics Bureau, which revealed the proposal in a paper submitted to the Legislative Council earlier this week, said it also planned to extend the rules and require safety belts on all seats in newly registered buses and minibuses. It will be compulsory for passengers to strap themselves in.
On the cap on dashboard phones, the paper, which will be discussed at Legco next Friday, proposed a HK$450 ticket from police for any violations, and a maximum fine of HK$2,000 for more serious cases heard in court.
Currently, the Road Traffic Ordinance only penalises motorists for speaking on the phone while driving. Offenders face a maximum fine of HK$2,000.
But the practice of swiping smartphones mounted on dashboards has become relatively common with the advent of touch-screen technology, especially among professional drivers, including cabbies who use the devices to check bookings and road traffic information.
Under the proposal, the maximum diagonal length of screens to be fixed on dashboards is suggested to be at 18cm (7.1 inches), and the position of the devices should not hinder the drivers’ sight.
The bureau said it proposed to limit the number of devices to two, a suggestion agreed upon by most of the driver groups consulted.
While the groups suggested that drivers should only be allowed to use audio and not the touch-screen command, the bureau said this would be decided after considering enforcement feasibility issues and views of stakeholders.
