China's Ministry of Public Security released Wednesday a series of measures aimed to prevent major traffic accidents during the upcoming winter-spring period.

In a circular containing 12 measures, the ministry ordered compulsory checks on passenger buses with seven or more seats, and specified details such as the maximum number of passengers allowed, driving duration, driver license, vehicle certificate, security equipment and tires' status.

The circular also urged local traffic departments to set up round-the-clock monitoring of road conditions and map out emergency plans in case of bad weather.

The instructions came after a massive vehicle pileup Friday on an expressway in eastern Jiangxi Province, which killed at least 12 people and injured 13 others.

According to local traffic police, 41 vehicles, mostly trucks, crashed into the back of each other amid heavy fog.

Other measures include stricter standards for regular checks on large trucks, and harsher punishments for speeding, fatigue driving, reverse driving and illegal overtaking.

According to the China National Committee for the Well-Being of the Youth, traffic accidents have become the biggest threat to the safety of Chinese middle and primary school students, causing over 20,000 casualties every year.