New crackdown on 'road killer' in Beijing

Beijing transportation authorities have launched a new round of crackdown on illegal motored tricycle taxis that have been widely blamed for interrupting the city's traffic order.

Beijing Youth Daily reported the 76 road accidents caused by rude drivers of such motors have claimed 78 lives between January to July, 41 more than in the same period last year, citing figures from the city's traffic administration.

According to the traffic authorities, they have received more than 6000 complaint calls and over 400 letters from citizens urging a crackdown, with more than 500 license-less motorbikes confiscated in the past few months.

The report said enforcement staffs will be deployed at 78 pre-designated crowded places, most of which are near subway stations, hospitals and schools.

The crackdown will mainly target unlicensed drivers and motors without license plates or illegally modified.

The seized vehicles without legal purchase documents will be destroyed.

The electric motors will be exampt from the crackdown due to the lack of related regulations on the battery-powered cycles.

Chinese laws only allow the disabled to use motored tricycles to facilitate their trips, but the efforts against black taxis altered from such vehicles have often ended in vain.

Such taxis can still be often seen especially in the urban-rural fringe area, where public transportation services are insufficient and most of the residents can't afford high commuting costs.

Some experts once suggested the authorities not only step up crackdowns, but also strive to provide more considerate bus services.