The Ministry of Public Security ordered the traffic police to tighten the surveillance of these means of transportation, in order to sanction any infraction on public roads, as well as to alert travelers and drivers about the risks of violating the regulations.

This measure was taken after a minivan carrying more people than allowed crashed into a truck on a highway in the northwestern province of Gansu yesterday, killing seven of its passengers and injuring 10 others.

An investigation was opened so as to determine the causes of the tragedy.

jrr/jav/jha/ymr