KOTA KINABALU: Express bus drivers are required to undergo urine tests daily to ensure that they do not consume prohibited substances such as drugs when they are behind the wheel.
Sabah Road Safety Department (JKJR) director Herdiansah Abdul Karim said he had met with officials from the National Anti-drug Agency (AADK), Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) and Sabah Express Bus Operators Council (SEBOC) president yesterday morning and all parties agreed on the daily urine tests for bus drivers.
“That (the urine test) is also a decision by the cabinet to ensure that express bus drivers are free from the influence of prohibited substances when they are on the road,” Herdiansah told the media after launching Ops Selamat with the city police here yesterday.
He also urged bus express operators to ensure that their drivers were in the best condition when they are driving, and not taking prohibited substances like drugs.
Herdiansah expressed hope that this measure would improve the confidence level of the communities on public transport.
He added that JKJR provided competency training to express bus drivers in efforts to encourage the usage of public transportation.
He believed that the people in Sabah are still confident on using public transport such as express buses as there were less accidents and fatalities involving public transport here compared to in West Malaysia.
On the Ops Selamat programme, Herdiansah said JKJR carried out road safety advocacy programmes weekly, and not just on festive seasons.
“JKJR also lends its support to the police in programmes such as the Ops Selamat,” he said.
“Every week we do advocacy programme for road users, school children, civil servants and the private sector. That is our Key Performance Index (KPI).”
JKJR also distributed 40 new helmets free to motorcyclists with old or broken helmets that no longer meet the safety requirements yesterday.
Herdiansah also urged motorists to plan their journey and make sure that their vehicles are in safe condition before returning to their hometown for the Harvest Festival.
He said road users should practise self-regulation, such as to wear seat belts at all times and not to speed and only observe the rules only when enforcement officers were present.