The Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB) has been called upon to come up with a control mechanism for issuing bus licences for double-decker buses for commercial transportation and monitor the training of drivers of such buses.

Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros)'s director-general, Prof Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah said beside the terrain factor, issuance of the licences should consider the ability of drivers to handle double-decker buses.

"We should have control to ensure that double-decker buses do not only provide for more seats but also that drivers are properly trained.

"Areas that double-decker buses can be used should also be identified so that high-risk areas can be properly monitored," he told reporters in Ipoh today.

Also present was director-general of the Road Safety Department, Suret Singh, and the enforcement director of the Road Transport Department (RTD), Salim Parlan.

Double-deckers more suitable for city use

Ahmad Farhan said although the double-decker bus was generally stable when driven in normal situations it needed a skilled driver to handle it.

"We know that it needs a skilled driver to handle a double-decker. The speed and movements are different from a normal bus," he said while agreeing that double-decker buses were more suited for town use than long-distance travel.

Ahmad Farhan said Miros did not agree with the agreement to restrict bus trips at night or after midnight as proposed by some quarters.

He said a study by Miros revealed that many express bus passengers will be affected by such a move.

Ahmad Farhan, Suret Singh and Salim also inspected the Sani Express double-decker that was involved in the accident at Km272.8 of the North-South Expressway that claimed 10 lives and was now at the Ipoh police district headquarters.

- Bernama