(ECNS) - China's legal authorities have vowed to increase penalties for people who violate public transportation safety rules.
The Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the Ministry of Public Security jointly issued a directive to target acts that affect public transportation.
The new policy further clarified the laws dealing with acts that endanger public transportation.
Passengers committing acts such as "grabbing the steering wheel, shift lever or other devices, or beating or pulling the driver” will be regarded as “endangering public safety," and the convicted will not receive probation even if there is no serious consequence from the act.
Armed attacks aimed at bus drivers or on-duty police will face heavier punishments.
It also said that bus drivers who cannot reasonably respond to disputes with passengers, and act in a way that harms safety, will also be convicted of "endangering public safety."
In recent years, there have been a number of cases in China where bus drivers have been attacked or even the steering wheel snatched by passengers during a conflict. On October 28, a bus carrying a dozen passengers plunged into the Yangtze River after a passenger had a fight with the bus driver.
