Express Bus Tragedy: History Repeats Itself

Malaysia has one of the best roads systems in the world. However, our roads system has turned into a war zone where on an average, we have more than 18 deaths a day on Malaysia roads. The human factor of course plays an important role.

The express bus accident near Rawang is a classical example of history repeating itself. It demonstrates clearly that we never learn. The enforcement agency of JPJ is full of thunder but signifying nothing. Every time after an express bus crash with many deaths, we are promised that an enquiry will be conducted. The results of these enquiries have never been revealed to us.

What is appalling is that every time when there is a crash, we find that either the bus company or the bus driver have outstanding summons which have not been settled. The question is is there no enforcement or is there so much of hanky panky that enforcement only remains in name? In the last accident near Rawang, I read that the driver has 8 summons and the co-driver has 6 summons and 5 arrests, all for speeding. I am sure that the relevant authorities from the police to the JPJ must be aware of this. Why no action was taken?

After every accident, some senior officials or even politicians will promise action but often I have come to learn that in most of these cases, it is words that speak louder than action. I am sure punitive action can be taken against the bus company and the bus driver. Maybe it has been done and I don’t know.

The authority should revamp the whole system of licensing and enforcement. If the authorities are firm towards errant driver, I am sure our roads will be a safer one. In New Zealand and Australia and even great part of Europe, the bus driver is also the tour guide, he not only drives, as he drives, he has to do running commentary. To prevent speeding, they have to report at designated centre on their journey. From there, the authorities will know whether they are speeding or not.

I had the opportunity to travel in UK, New Zealand and part of Europe by bus and it was a pleasant drive. I observe that they drive carefully with no speeding since they know authorities will come down hard on them if they are caught violating traffic rules.

The authority should look at bus companies operating bus services. This may include drivers’ remuneration and benefits, hours of driving and frequency of trip. To pack the drivers’ remuneration to the frequency of trip without consideration for the welfare of the driver and the passengers should be condemned. There should be a more enlightened system of reward and punishment.

马来西亚的道路系统堪称全球最完善之一。然而，它同时也犹如战区，交通事故频频，平均每日夺走18条人命，一般上人为因素是首要肇因。

最近在万挠发生的长途巴士车祸是历史再重演的典型例子，显示人们未吸取前车之鉴。陆路交通局执法组行动再雷厉，情况仍没有显著改善。每当发生长途巴士夺命车祸，有关当局都信誓旦旦全面彻查，但却从未向人民公布调查结果。


让人惊骇的是，交通意外往往揭发肇祸的长巴或该巴士公司都有不少未缴还的传票，让我们不禁怀疑，究竟是有关当局执法不力，还是背后有另有内情。根据报导，万挠那场车祸的肇祸巴士司机和副司机过去皆因超速被罚多张传票：司机8张、副司机6张，至今尚未缴还，后者还另有5张逮捕通知。我相信警方和陆路交通局的相关单位皆知情，为何没有采取进一步行动则不得而知。

通常车祸发生后，一些高级官员甚至有政治人物会承诺采取行动。但雷大雨小，据了解大部分个案最终都不了了之。我相信当局能以法制严惩涉案的巴士公司和司机。也许他们确实有这么做而我们却不知情。

有关当局有必要修该现有的执照发放和执法系统。我坚信，如果执法当局对付鲁莽司机的态度坚定，必能提高国内的道路安全。在纽西兰、澳洲及部分欧洲国家，巴士司机同时也兼任导游。他除了开车还得现场为游客解说。为防止超速驾驶，司机必须在既定的地点向有关当局报告，当局则能根据报告的位置和时间，鉴定对方是否违规超速。司机很清楚一旦违规将面对严厉的制裁，因此驾驶时很谨慎，也严守交通规则。

因此，有关当局应该认真检讨国内的巴士公司服务，包括司机的薪酬、福利、工作时间和上路频率等。仅以上路的频率来决定司机的薪酬，罔顾司机福利及乘客安全的巴士公司应该被对付。反之，公司应该设定更开明发性具启迪性的薪酬，鼓励从业者更认真负责地对待这份职业。