COMPANIES that are engaged in app-based bus services in Shenzhen have been demanded by authorities to regulate their industry and urge their drivers to obey traffic rules as more road accidents have taken place in recent months, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

Shenzhen now has over 100,000 residents registered to use app-based buses for their daily commute.

The authorities urged these companies to conduct self-evaluations to make sure that all of the buses used to carry passengers have the required permits and that their bus drivers have the required qualification certificates. Also, companies must ink contracts with riders of their chartered buses, and no other passengers should be taken.

Also, to meet the demand of China’s anti-terrorism law, the identity of all riders must be verified before the ride and all luggage must be checked. Companies have also been required to offer professional training to their personnel on a regular basis and to purchase insurance for their buses as well as riders.

App-based buses are often seen on main roads during morning and afternoon rush hours, so it has also been made a requirement for them to obey traffic rules. The authorities have required 10 firms attending a recent meeting to regulate their vehicle management system.

(Zhang Qian)