Bus Industry slow to grapple with its safety problems
Bus Industry slow to grapple with its safety problems
JAKARTA (JP): An educator of transport company managers says
it would be a shock to the industry's system if strict
enforcement began on the requirement for moving buses to close
their doors.
Herdjan Kenasin, chairman of the Jakarta-based Trisakti
Transport Management Academy, noted that the government has never
enforced the safety regulation and has allowed bus crews to
operate recklessly.
"Now it needs time to let bus companies and their employees
adapt to this new situation," the chairman said during a
telephone interview with The Jakarta Post.
Referring to a month adaptation period, he said that it is not
enough for the public bus companies to repair all of their buses'
broken doors.
Starting this month, the municipality has ordered buses to
close their doors while moving.
The City Traffic and Land Transportation Control Office
(DLLAJ) and the City Police headquarters stated earlier this week
that they will impound buses which have no doors or broken doors.
A spokesman of the joint team announced that during their
operation some 100 bus drivers were ticketed, which included
drivers of the private-run Metro Mini, Kopaja and Mayasari Bakti
bus companies, as well as of the state-owned Perusahaan
Pengangkutan Djakarta (PPD).
The spokesman, however, said that many bus drivers are still
ignoring the regulation.
He stressed that the companies need more time.
In a related development, vice president of PT Steady Safe
transport company Datin Rashidah Nor said yesterday that bus
companies should fully support the regulation.
Rashidah said that PT Steady Safe, which operates Masstrans
executive buses, has always obeyed the rule.
"I strongly support the regulation for the sake of the
passengers' safety," she said.
She stressed that letting bus doors open while the bus is
traveling also disturbs the comfort of the passengers.
According to her, Masstrans can easily follow the regulation
since it has three bus crews in each of its air-conditioned
vehicles: a driver, a conductor and a security official.
"The security official can help the conductor to close the door,"
she added.
Asked about other bus companies which do not follow the
regulation, Rashidah simply said, "It's a matter of management."
Herdjan also stressed the importance of consistent government
enforcement.
"It's high time for the administration to uphold the law. I'll
be very sorry if the government drops this standard requirement,"
Herdjan said, adding that safety is the first priority for every
bus company. (09)