The death of an 11-year-old girl, who was struck by a taxicab with bad brakes, has renewed public concern about required regular car checks.

The car was running at 37 kph when it hit the girl on Jan 29. Later tests showed that its brakes were only operating at about half their optimum power.

Liu Changhua, the taxi driver, said during a court hearing on Wednesday that he applied the brakes but the car did not stop.