Traffic police in Tibet Autonomous Region, southwest China, has introduced a series of measures including speed limits for all highways and harsher punishment on speeding to ensure road safety, a police officer said on Wednesday.

The move came after more than 20 people including tourists died in two accidents last month.

Motor vehicles will be only allowed to run at a speed of no more than 40 km per hour on urban roads, while speed limits on highways outside cities are set at 70 km per hour. Tibet traffic police will erect more signs for turnings, schools and other special sites to set certain limits, said Jigme, an officer with the public security bureau of Tibet.

Those who drive at a speed more than 50 percent faster than the limit will have their driving licenses revoked, Jigme said.

A total of 197 people were killed in 290 road accidents in Tibet in the first half of this year.

Tibet is currently in its peak tourism season. Tibet expects to host three million tourists this year, bringing in 3.4 billion yuan (US$448.8 million) in tourism revenue.

(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2007)