Bus firms should 'educate' drivers

Bus firms should 'educate' drivers

JAKARTA (JP): Bus companies and owners are responsible for
educating their drivers about road safety, a senior official said
yesterday.

The head of City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ), J.P.
Sepang, said the routine training provided by the government was
inadequate due to limited funds and facilities.

A special course for public transportation drivers is held in
Serpong, Tangerang twice a year.

"Remember that the training given by the municipality is only
complementary. The main education has to be provided by the bus
companies which hire the drivers," he said.

Sepang was commenting on the increase in road accidents
involving public buses, which are notorious for their poor
service and reckless driving.

On Sunday, a mob set fire to two U-24 Metromini buses plying
the Senen-Tanjung Priok route after one of them fatally hit two
pedestrians and seriously injured another on Jl. Sunter Jaya,
North Jakarta.

PT Metromini promised Wednesday that it would compensate
relatives of the two people killed.

Operations manager Maninting Panjaitan said the company would
also offer compensation to the surviving victim and owners of the
two roadside houses badly damaged in the accident.

Three days after the Sunter accident, another Metromini bus T-
47 plying the Pondok Kopi - Senen route hit and severely injured
a motorcyclist before it rammed into an electricity pole near
Jembatan Serong in East Jakarta.

City traffic police chief Col. Fachrudin B. called on city bus
drivers Thursday to stop driving recklessly. He said between two
and three people died in road accidents in Greater Jakarta every
day.

Sepang said reckless driving was to blame for most accidents.

"Bus owners should be selective in choosing drivers," he said.
"They cannot expect the municipality to take care of the
drivers."

Choosing a driver is like choosing a maid, the employer should
first teach the new worker how to get about safely, he said. In
the driver's case, Jakarta's chaotic streets are his/her
workplace.

Governor Sutiyoso also expressed concern Wednesday over bus
drivers' lack of discipline and called for severe punitive action
to be taken against reckless drivers.

"Revoke their driver's permit permanently if necessary. The
rising number of road accidents is outrageous because the
government has done its best to provide the drivers with skills
through courses," he said.

When asked if it was possible for the city administration to
set up a special school for drivers, he said it was impossible
for the upcoming fiscal year.

"As you know the city is short of money now. It is impossible
to build such a school."

Head of the traffic division of DLLAJ Oriyanto Sapardal told
the Post that the Sunter Metromini accident was still under
police investigation.

"The driver may have his license revoked," he said.

In the mean time, the Metromini U-24 route has been altered
temporarily for fear of a possible attack by Sunter residents
enraged by Sunday's accident. (edt)