KUALA LUMPUR: Bus operators have been urged to adhere to the guidelines set by the Transport Ministry to ensure that drivers get adequate rest to prevent fatigue while driving.
Peninsular Malaysia Road Transport Officers Union president Hamzah Masri said the lacka-daisical attitude of some bus operators on safety measures was to be blamed for fatal accidents.
He said the causes of bus accidents must be studied comprehensively, including on drivers fatigue and poor management.
The Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) must study whether drivers abide by the rules imposed by employing safe driving practices, he said when commenting on an express bus tragedy in Ipoh South recently.
Ten passengers were killed and two injured after a double-decker Sani Express bus skidded and hit a guard rail at Km272.8 of the North-South Expressway as it was heading north, about 8km from the Ipoh South toll plaza on Dec 26.
“If bus drivers are in good health and drive in a comfortable condition and are not at the wheel continuously for long hours, fatal accidents could be averted,” he said. Hamzah said public transport operators must abide by the rules stipulated in the Occupa-tional Safety and Health Act 1994 to prevent accidents. – Bernama