IPOH: The Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB) has been called upon to come up with a control mechanism for issuing bus licences for double-decker buses for commercial transportation.
HORRIFIC ACCIDENT: A crowd trying to take a closer look at the Sani Express double-decker bus which was involved in an accident killing 10 passengers on Saturday. — Bernama photo
Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros)’s director-general, Prof. Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah said besides the terrain factor, issuance of the licences should consider the ability of drivers to handle double-decker buses.
“We should have control to ensure that double-decker buses do not only provide for more seats but also that drivers are properly trained.
“Areas that double-decker buses can be used should also be identified so that high-risk areas can be properly monitored,” he told reporters here yesterday.
Also present was director-geneal of the Road Safety Department, Datuk Suret Singh, and the enforcement director of the Road Transport Department (RTD), Salim Parlan.
Ahmad Farhan said although the double-decker bus was generally stable when driven in normal situations it needed a skilled driver to handle it.
“We know that it needs a skilled driver to handle a double-decker.
“The speed and movements are different from a normal bus,” he said while agreeing that double-decker buses were more suiThe Commercial Vehicles Licencing Board (CVLB)ted for town use than long-distance travel.
Ahmad Farhan said Miros did not agree with the agreement to restrict bus trips at night or after midnight as proposed by some quarters.
He said a study by Miros revealed that many express bus passengers will be affected by such a move.
Ahmad Farhan, Suret Singh and Salim also inspected the Sani Express double-decker that was involved in the accident at Km272.8 of the North-South Expressway that claimed 10 lives and was now at the Ipoh police district headquarters. — Bernama