Bus firms warned to discipline drivers
Bus firms warned to discipline drivers
JAKARTA (JP): The Land Transportation and Traffic Control
Agency is threatening to revoke the operation licenses of bus
companies and other public transit vehicle firms whose drivers
frequently violate route regulations.
HM Djuhdi, head of the agency's transportation business
development office, said over the weekend that the drivers of the
companies to face the stern actions chronically refuse to enter
bus terminals on their designated routes.
Bus drivers frequently cut short their routes to avoid
entering terminals because they often have to wait in long lines
to pick up passengers.
"In the initial stage of the crackdown, we will give warnings
to the companies whose drivers violate the existing rules. If the
companies are not able to instill discipline in their drivers we
will revoke their operating licenses," Djuhdi told Antara.
He made the remarks in response to the high rate of violations
by Metromini and Mikrolet bus drivers. Other violations include
exceeding load capacity limits and the deadline for vehicle
roadworthiness examinations.
Djuhdi said that he does not agree with the drivers'
complaints that their routes are too long.
"The routes are given to the companies based on their own
requests when they made proposals for their operations," he said.
The proposals are later discussed by agency officials with the
bus owners and representatives of the Jakarta Chapter of the
Association of Land Transportation Owners.
Trial operations
He explained that based on the discussions, the agency issues
a decree for trial operations on the route for three months. At
the end of the trial period and evaluation is made.
"The trial operation is designed to prevent the possibility of
problems from arising later and at the same time it is used to
monitor whether the public really needs transportation services
on the route," he said.
Djuhdi said that the drivers forcing passengers to get off the
buses before entering terminals, or stopping at bus shelters, are
only thinking of their wallets.
"For example, a bus driver drops passengers off anywhere he
pleases because he wants to make a U-turn which will enable him
to pick up and transport a greater number of passengers," he
said.
His office has received many reports saying that public
transit vehicles serving the route between Kampung Rambutan in
East Jakarta and Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta frequently make
U-turns at Kampung Melayu and the Indonesian Christian
University.
Djuhdi said further that his office, in cooperation with the
city police, is currently evaluating the overall operations of
public transit vehicles.
"The agency is also considering the possibility of
intensifying control over the operation of public transit
vehicles along the elevated roads in response to complaints that
they are causing traffic jams," he said.
The agency's chief, JP Sepang, ordered owners of buses and
other public transit vehicles operating in the capital on
Thursday to bring their fleets up to standard to improve service
and facilitate traffic flow.
He gave the order to help improve the image of Jakarta in the
eyes of the delegates and other guests of the upcoming Asia-
Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. (hhr)