[Car Tips] Things to Note When Driving Near Bus Stops
🚌 My honest opinion: The area around the bus stop is a traffic vortex.
Hong Kong has densely populated roads, and bus stops are almost everywhere, especially in densely populated areas, where they can be found every few hundred meters. Furthermore, bus stops often have the following traffic characteristics, making them particularly dangerous:
- The traffic flow is complex - buses entering and leaving the station, taxis stopping, and private cars picking up and dropping off passengers.
- Heavy traffic - passengers, pedestrians, elderly people, students suddenly crossing the road.
- Traffic flow changes rapidly - buses suddenly cut in and out of the station, and their speeds alternate between fast and slow.
- Obstructed view – Large buses block the driver’s view of pedestrians crossing the road or oncoming traffic.
When I was still a novice driver, I once had a "scare" incident on Kwun Tong Road near the Ngau Tau Kok Bus Terminus - the bus stop blocked my view, and suddenly someone rushed across the road in front of me. Fortunately, I walked slowly and left a safe distance.
🚗 Five principles for driving near bus stops
1. Slow down and be prepared to adapt
- When approaching a bus stop, immediately observe the movements of the bus in front and reduce the throttle in advance.
- According to the Road Users' Code, drivers should slow down and be prepared to stop in areas where pedestrians may cross the road.
- It is recommended to reduce the speed to 30-40km/h in urban areas of Hong Kong, and even to 20-30km/h during peak hours.
2. Increase the observation range
- Use your eyes + rearview mirror + side mirror to observe in three directions. Pay attention to:
- Whether the bus has turned on its lights to leave the bus stop;
- Is there a second bus or minibus at the bus stop?
- Whether a pedestrian suddenly walks out from the front or rear of the bus.
- Tip: When approaching a bus stop, use the "alternating left and right glance" method and don't stare at one side for too long.
3. Predict bus exit movements
- Judging by indicator lights : When a bus turns on the right indicator, it means it is about to leave the station, but this is not always done completely.
- The front of the car swings : Even without turning on the indicator, the driver will often turn right in advance, which is a signal to prepare to leave the station.
- Be courteous : According to the Road Traffic Ordinance, you must give way to buses when it is safe to do so.
4. Prevent blind spot accidents
- The view from buses is severely obstructed, especially double-decker buses.
- Typical hazards:
- If there are children or elderly people crossing in front of the bus, you can’t see them at all;
- A cyclist was walking up the shoulder behind the bus and suddenly merged into the lane.
- Solution:
- When in front of or behind a bus, maintain extra distance (at least 1–2 car lengths more than usual);
- Try not to ride alongside the bus for too long.
5. Be careful of vehicles that illegally pick up or drop off passengers
- Near the bus stop, in addition to buses, taxis, minibuses and even private cars often stop temporarily to pick up and drop off passengers.
- These vehicles may stop or open their doors suddenly, especially when the left door is open, which is extremely dangerous to cyclists and motorcycles.
- Editor's suggestion: Pay attention to the gaps in the doors of parked cars while driving. If there is light or human shadows, you may need to open the door.
⚠️ Common dangerous situations and solutions
| Dangerous situations | sign | The right approach | Wrong Practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| The bus suddenly left the station | Turn on the right indicator and sway the front of the car slightly | Slow down and allow space for it to exit | Speed up to overtake the bus |
| Pedestrians crossing the road | The bus blocks the view, and there is a figure near the bus stop. | Slow down and prepare to stop with intermittent braking | Driving at full speed through a blind spot |
| Illegal parking before or after bus stops | The taillights of the car are on and the driver is approaching the roadside | Slow down and check the door | Change lanes quickly to avoid, ignoring blind spots |
| Multiple vehicles docking at the same time | Two buses or a bus and a minibus | Slow down, keep going straight, or stop and wait | Overtaking through a narrow gap |
📍 Examples of real black spots in Hong Kong
- Outside the Ngau Tau Kok Bus Terminus on Kwun Tong Road : There are multiple lanes, buses frequently enter and exit the station, and there are a lot of people.
- Nathan Road section from Yau Ma Tei to Jordan : Bus stops are densely packed, with taxis dropping off passengers and pedestrians jaywalking.
- Clear Water Bay Road near Tiu Keng Leng : There is a bus stop immediately after the bend, with short sight lines and a narrow road.
- Tai Chung Kiu Road, Sha Tin : During peak hours, many buses queue up to enter the station, and vehicles behind them may change lanes in a hurry.
💡 Editor's Tips
- Try to observe the traffic flow behind the bus stop in advance : use a high-angle view or an oblique angle to know in advance whether there are buses leaving the station.
- Use brake lights to signal : When slowing down, lightly press the brakes to alert the vehicle behind you and avoid rear-end collisions.
- Give up the mentality of fighting for a seat : the bus moves rapidly and the time difference is very short, so fighting for a seat is costly and dangerous.
- Just drive slowly during rush hour : leaving a 5-10 second buffer will greatly increase your sense of security.
✅ Summary of three-word tips
When driving near bus stops, remember to "slow down, look, and yield" :
- Slow : Slow down in advance to give yourself more reaction time;
- Look : Keep an eye on buses, pedestrians, and other vehicles;
- Yield : Yield to the bus leaving the bus stop when it is safe to do so.
