A fatal tour bus crash in northwest China earlier this month has prompted an order from one of the country's highest safety authorities for measures to improve the safety of public transport.

The Work Safety Committee Office of the State Council made the call in a report on the investigation into the crash in Altay, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Sept. 16, which left 11 dead and six injured.

The bus, with 17 people aboard, plunged into a ravine when a spring on the steering tie rod broke due to wear and tear, the report said.

The investigation also found the driver was not licensed to drive the tour bus.

"The accident has exposed the weak links in work safety faced by passenger transport companies, traffic and transport safety supervisory authorities and drivers," the report said.

Safety awareness should be promoted so that transport enterprises put safety ahead of profit, said the report.