Govt proposes mechanism to limit bus speed

UALA TERENGGANU: The government has proposed introducing a mechanism to limit the speed of express and stage buses at 90km per hour in a move to ensure passenger safety.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said the suggestion would be brought to the Cabinet for discussion due to the dangerous manner the public transport vehicle was being driven these days.

He said this regulation had been implemented in several developed countries such as Germany and Japan, and he hoped that this would help prevent road fatalities involving bus passengers in the future.

"I don't think there is a need to put up signboards or anything. Express buses are sometimes driven fast in this country, especially now with the existence of doubledecker buses that can put other motorists' lives in danger.

"We must fix the speed limit at 90km per hour...or at whatever suitable speed limit," he said after handing over approval letters to 73 rental car drivers from throughout Terengganu, here, Tuesday.

Also present was Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) chairman, Datuk Markiman Kobiran.

Nazri said that previously, various measures were implemented to get express bus drivers to adhere to the speed limit such as making compulsory the installation of the black boxes and using the Global Positioning System (GPs), but to no avail.

He said the government also suggested establishing a public transport driving school to train future drivers of buses and other public transport vehicles, as well as forming the National Public Tranport Commission.

Nazri said the proposed driving school would be a long term solution, where the participants would undergo a basic course for three to four months before being given a permit to drive a public transport vehicle.

"The school will also record and keep all data and information regarding the drivers, and the records updated to ensure that drivers with offences are not hired by any public transport company," he said.

In another development, Nazri said he had sent the memorandum to all the ministries on the proposed fare increase for all public transport, and was waiting for feedback before the matter could be brought to the Cabinet. - Bernama

Two die, seven hurt in bus and trailer crash

KUANTAN: Two people were killed and seven seriously hurt in a crash between a Transnasional bus and a trailer at Km31 Jalan Kuantan-Maran last night.

The dead were identified as trailer driver Khairil Nizam Mohamed, 31, of Kampung Padang Midin, Kuala Terengganu and bus passenger Sabariah Arif, 32, of Felda Purun, Triang.

Pahang traffic police enforcement officer ASP Zainalabidin Othman said the express bus with 21 passengers was travelling from Kuantan to Temerloh when it collided with the trailer at 8.45pm.

The seven hurt were bus driver Mohd Zaladin Ripin, 42, trailer attendant Yusof Hassan, 47, passengers Tuan Suziyzti Tuan Nor, 24, Aulia Hassan Basri, 32, Mohd Johar Yadin, 56, Abdul Rahman Abdullah, 19, and Raja Ahmad Suari Raja Abu Bakar, 40.

The injured passengers were treated at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, Kuantan.

"The bus was believed to have strayed into the path of the oncoming trailer laden with fertilisers," said Zainalabidin.

The crash badly damaged the front part of the trailer while the front half of the bus was also damaged.

Public with information on the crash should contact Kuantan traffic investigation officer Insp Lim Beng Thye at 09-5156111.

Entire bus fleet suspended after fatal accident

PUTRAJAYA: The Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB) has suspended for one month all eight buses belonging to AB Express Sdn Bhd after an audit showed it had failed to comply with travel safety related procedures and neglected training its drivers.

CVLB chairman Datuk Markiman Kobiran said the board had conducted an audit after one of the company’s express buses crashed near Rawang last April 13, killing six people.

Initial investigations found that the bus driver Fauzi Mohammed, 34, had eight summonses for speeding, while co-driver Zulkhibri Md Saad, 35, had six summonses and five arrest warrants for the same offence.

Among the board’s findings that led to the suspension, said Markiman, were AB Express’ failure to comply with several procedures under the Safety, Health and Environment Code of Practice (SHE).

He said in a statement that the company failed to produce records as required under SHE to prove it had taken any action with regard to the safety of the buses, travel risk management and the management of its drivers and the fines issued to them.

During the suspension (from yesterday till June 3), the company’s top management must attend courses on SHE organised by the Malaysian Institute for Road Safety Research and the Occupational Safety and Health Department (DOSH).