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The latest bus crash which resulted with one fatality and 39 passengers injured when a bus plunged into a ravine at Km70 of the Kuantan-Segamat highway marks another in a series of accidents involving commercial, tourist or interstate busses, such that this scenario is frighteningly becoming a regular feature till the senses of readers become numbed!

The Peninsular Malaysia Bus Drivers Association made a salient point in highlighting that the welfare of the bus drivers had been overlooked, ie they were paid below the minimum wage and forced to work overtime or risk having salary cuts.

Herewith, our MCA public services and complaints bureau would like to recommend the following measures with the aim of safeguarding the driver’s welfare, which in turn will not only motivate them but likewise protect the safety of the passengers.

At the very least, the bus drivers should be paid minimum wages. They should also be given meal and telephone allowances capped with a ceiling and likewise be paid overtime rates as well. This will motivate drivers rather than discourage them whilst on the job.

If the journey exceeds two hours, there should be an alternate driver where each driver should take turns at the wheel after every four hours.

The driver of this ill-fated Singapore-bound bus had admitted falling asleep while on the road and similarly, there have been reports that bus drivers had resorted to drugs to stay alert/awake but unfortunately became “high” and lost control of the pedals.

Hence, just as how international civil aviation regulations require pilots to be given compulsory10 hours of rest, including 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep, in between their eight or nine-hour shifts (The Economist, Jan 7, 2014), likewise, inter-state bus drivers and especially those taking the wheel after 6pm and whose shift exceeds 12 hours should be given a mandatory rest period of eight hours.

Such a regulation will prevent sleepiness or drowsiness by bus drivers who should then be more alert.

The licencing authorities be it the Transport Ministry or the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad) must also conduct regular urine tests, perhaps every quarter and at random on the bus drivers to ensure they are free from drugs. Bus drivers should also be made to undergo psychological and aptitude assessment annually to ascertain their mental and physical conditions are functioning normally.

Hold bosses accountable

Bus companies must regularly upkeep and maintain their fleet to ensure the road-worthiness of their vehicles.

Rapid KL busses have installed a global positioning system (GPS) and CCTV cameras inside the busses. Likewise, commercial and interstate busses should also mount these equipment inside their passenger buses to monitor the conduct and ensure safety of both drivers and passengers.

If there are any bus drivers caught flouting the law, or if there are crashes resulting with injuries or fatalities also due to poorly maintained busses, the bus company directors or owners must be held liable.


JASON TEOH SEW HOCK is MCA public services and complaints bureau chairperson and MCA central committee member.

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