China to launch national traffic safety overhaul after fatal bus fire

The Ministry of Public Security will launch a two-month national traffic safety overhaul campaign from August, in a bid to prevent major traffic accidents. The campaign will primarily focus on checks of passenger coaches, trucks, school buses and vehicles that carry hazardous materials, said a statement issued by the ministry on Sunday. Speeding, reckless driving, overloaded cargo, fatigued driving and other conduct that endangers the expressway transportation will be the major targets in the campaign, the ministry said. During the campaign, the police will set up more mobile traffic-safety checkpoints, intensify efforts of road patrol and traffic management, and promote cooperation among police in different areas, the ministry said. An overloaded 35-seat bus caught fire on July 22 on the Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway, killing 41 people and injuring 6 others onboard.