KUALA LUMPUR: The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has proposed that express bus companies to review their commission-driven mechanism for its drivers.
Its chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said he believes bus drivers should be paid higher basic salaries to prevent them from chasing trips in order to earn income.
"When the basic salaries provided are insufficient, drivers are forced to go after more trips to increase their earnings.
"Thus, bus operators should be encouraged to provide higher salaries to their drivers," he told reporters after launching the Garage Giveaway Programme today.
Syed Hamid said although the proposal will not entirely ensure the safety of express buses on the road, it will at least minimise the chances of drivers pushing themselves to the point of fatigue and endangering the passengers.
He said the government should allow bus companies to charge flexible fares so that they will be able to pay higher salaries to their drivers.
At the same time, Syed Hamid said the public not to point fingers at SPAD everytime there was an accident involving casualties and heavy vehicles.
"Please read up on the traffic ordinance because SPAD only issues the licence (to bus operators). Others (such as speeding and driver's condition) are under the purview of Road Transport Department (RTD) and police. We (SPAD) have no powers to check the drivers or ensure they adhere to the speed limit.
"We can suspend the operator's licence in accident cases involving express buses," he said. Syed Hamid said to resolve the problem, all related agencies should sit down to discuss new laws and implement measures to improve the bus service in the country.
"As for SPAD, we are interested with the proposal to install seat belts on express buses. We should discuss this further," he said. -- BERNAMA
SOURCE
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