All public buses should have GPS - SPAD

The Land and Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has encouraged all public buses to be equipped with the global positioning system (GPS) to prevent them from being driven at high speed.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said only a few bus companies, such as Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, were equipped with GPS to monitor their drivers.

"We need the cooperation and willingness of all bus companies to do this. The GPS systems will be connected to a control centre so drivers can be monitored and action taken on the errant ones," he said, citing China where the country used a system to monitor public transportation drivers to ensure they did not exceed the speed limit.

He was speaking to reporters after visiting the Kuantan Sentral Terminal here Friday.

Syed Hamid said SPAD's meetings with public bus company operators to discuss the proposal to install GPS systems had so far, received positive feedback.

Meanwhile, he said the commission would suggest to the government to fix a floor price or minimum fare for school buses.

He said there was a need for a detailed study on the decision to increase school bus fares as it could burden parents.

"We will bring up the suggestion to be fair to all parties, and at the same time, parents and school bus operators should also reach an agreement on the fare to be paid so that it is not below the floor price determined by SPAD," he added.

Syed Hamid said agreement between school bus operators and parents was imperative to curb illegal taxis and school buses which did not meet SPAD specifications and could endanger the lives of students.