T
Toshiie Maeda
Guest
Thursday January 13, 2011
94 tour buses involved in 176 traffic offences, says minister
By SHAUN HO
[email protected]
PETALING JAYA: A total of 94 tour buses have been identified in a variety of offences in the latest nationwide enforcement operations conducted by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said 415 tour buses had been inspected between Dec 31 and Jan 10.
Of these, 94 were found to have been involved in a total of 176 offences.
“Two buses have been banned from operating because they had expired road tax (discs) and were uninsured,” said Kong in a statement yesterday.
The JPJ has also deployed 112 officers since Jan 7 to go undercover as passengers to nab bus drivers with dangerous driving habits.
Bus passengers were also roped in to do their part by filling up complaint forms.
“The offences to look out for are using mobile phones while driving, smoking, overtaking on double lines and driving in the right lane for extended periods of time,” Kong said.
Meanwhile, the department has conducted inspections on express buses in 32 bus terminals nationwide with officers inspecting about 972 buses daily at major terminals.
Officers inspected brakes and tyres, as well as the buses’ logs, road tax status and permits besides drivers’ licences.
The National Anti-Drug Agency also helped administer urine tests on drivers.
Kong said 4,381 buses had been taken off the road last year after failing periodic inspections three times in a row.
