China campaigns against traffic violations

The Ministry of Public Security will start a nationwide crackdown on road traffic violations after a collision in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region killed 44.

The three-day campaign, starting on Thursday, will focus on large vehicles transporting hazardous chemicals without licenses, passenger buses at night and general road violations such as speeding and drunk driving.

Regulations generally ban passenger buses between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. due to fatigue concerns. Companies need to either adjust timetables, arrange overnight rest or employ multiple drivers for rotation .

A 55-seat tourist bus carrying 50 people fell off a 10 meter cliff after crashing into an SUV and a pick-up truck on Saturday afternoon, in a mountainous region in Tibet.

Though no investigation results have been released yet, a rescuer hinted earlier that it appears speeding or dangerous lane changing may have been the cause of the tragedy.

Local police departments were urged to deploy forces along key sections of road, collect information from the public and hand down severe punishments, naming and shaming the passenger bus and chemical companies in question.