KenaSaman.com

PETALING JAYA: Passengers have been urged to report directly to the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) if the driver of the bus they are travelling in speeds or drives recklessly.

SPAD has a special team based in Putrajaya, tasked with immediately contacting the bus operator when a report is lodged by a passenger.

“They just need to call us and tell us the bus registration number, what time and where the incident took place,” SPAD chief operating officer Azhar Ahmad said.

The team, which operates 24 hours, can be contacted at 1-800-889600.

Azhar, commenting on two bus accidents in Johor in consecutive days, also issued a stern warning to bus operators, telling them to make the safety of their passengers the priority, or lose their licence.

“In the event of an accident, the operators will either have their licences suspended or revoked if found to have previous records of negligence,” he said yesterday.

He said the ongoing enforcement by SPAD and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) on express buses at the country's 32 major bus terminals would continue throughout the year-end holiday season.

He pointed out that it was made compulsory since last year for all operators of express buses to install a “fleet management system” or GPS in their vehicles.

The device, which allows buses to be monitored at real-time, can produce detailed reports on the speed and movement of buses and alert operators if the drivers are speeding.

“If an accident occurs, the operators will be penalised if they are unable to provide us with a GPS report,” he said.

JPJ director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan urged drivers to be extra careful, especially since it was the rainy season.

“The role of bus operators is equally important to ensure their drivers are not overworked and the vehicles are in good condition,” he said.

Federal traffic deputy chief Asst Comm Mohd Fuad Abd Latiff said operations to catch errant bus drivers would continue.

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