Saturday January 22, 2011
Over 177 summonses issued to bus drivers during undercover operation
By SYED AZHAR and TEH ENG HOCK
[email protected]
RANTAU PANJANG: Undercover Road Transport officers posing as bus passengers have caught many reckless express drivers red handed. To date 177 summonses have been issued for various offences after the officers took rides on 348 buses.
They include overtaking along double lines, beating traffic lights, driving on emergency lanes, not adhering to traffic signages, jumping queues and continuously driving on fast lanes.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha wants these culprits to be slapped with maximum fines or taken to court. Kong said apart from the usual traffic offences, summonses were also issued for violating bus permit conditions and having no road taxes. “In one case the bus driver did not even have a driving licence,” he said.
“The officers boarded the buses as passengers and the summonses were served on the drivers at the end of every journey,” he said after launching a road safety campaign here yesterday. He said that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) resorted to using undercover tactics because repetitive warnings did not seem to work.
The undercover operation started on Jan 7 as a measure to reduce accidents involving express buses. He also said that the department would recommend to the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board to suspend the permits of errant bus operators.
The undercover operation found that driving while using a mobile phone is the most common offence committed by bus drivers. Some 41 drivers were issued compounds for using a mobile phone while driving, which carries a maximum fine of RM300. There were 39 violations of permit conditions, such as not plying the approved route.
Under Section 19 of the Road Transport Act, the penalty for such a violation is between RM1,000 and RM10,000. Another 14 summonses were issued due to irresponsible behaviour of drivers which include smoking while driving. A maximum fine of RM300 can be issued for the offence.
Seven 61(1) notices, six 114 notices and seven PG1 notices were also sent out by JPJ officers. The 61(1) and PG1 notices require companies to send their buses for technical checks and a 114 notice requires the driver to be present at an inquiry.
