Bus operators and drivers need to set their own standard - FOMCA

The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) wants tighter enforcement on bus operators and drivers to avoid more accidents in future.

FOMCA's chief executive officer Datuk Paul Selvaraj said tighter enforcement can save as a deterrent and a warning to the operators to follow the rules and regulations.

“We want to promote public transportation among the users but with these accidents happening around the country, they don’t feel safe. How are we supposed to convince them that it is safe to ride a bus?

“Introduction to other public transports such as the LRT and MRT are good, but for long distance travel, users will still use busses. So, the government need to ensure that the people would feel safe every time they board a bus,” Paul told Astro AWANI.

He said the installation of black box in every bus is crucial and needed to be done as soon as possible as accidents involving express buses are on the rise recently..

“Of course the bus operators will try to avoid it as it involves money. But this is important in ensuring the safety of the public,” he said.

Paul said apart form stricter enforcement, the Land and Public Transport Commission (SPAD) also need to clarify the direction, policy and rules to bus operators.

On reports of bus drivers driving under the influence of drugs, Paul called on the government to pay serious attention to it as it posed a serious problem and involves lives of the passengers.

Paul also dismissed talks that the attitude of passengers was also to be blamed in the event of an accident, adding that such an issue would not crop up if there was proper standards and rules in place.

“If the bus operators and the drivers have their own standard, such problem will not happen. Even if the passengers asked the driver to speed up, a driver following the standard and rules set by the company or government will not do so and this accidents can be avoided,” he added.