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The minibus problems continue

Jul 22, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
In your edition of Monday October 16, 2006, the following letter was published under the caption “Solving The Minibus Problem.” I re-submit the same letter verbatim, because I believe it is more relevant now than it was about five years ago. The letter stated:
The authorities can no longer prescribe band-aid remedies for the minibus malady. In order to stop the carnage on our roads, a more radical approach is required to excise this endemic culture.
The major causes of minibus accidents are speeding, poor judgement and a lack of situation awareness on the part of many drivers.
Why do drivers speed their buses? The answer is “To Maximize Their Earnings.” There are too many buses competing for a fixed number of commuters on any given day. Drivers are therefore enticed to make as many trips as possible to increase their income. This results in speeding. So, what can we do?
I submit that the authorities should phase out the 15-seater buses over a four-year period. As soon as possible, it should be mandated that buses being imported for public transportation should have at least 30 seats. At the end of the phasing out exercise there will be half the number of buses in the system, transporting approximately the same aggregate of passengers. The drivers can do fewer trips with less stress and still achieve their income.
But more importantly, since the 30-seaters are larger vehicles, they are less maneuverable than the 15-seaters. The drivers therefore cannot and will not drive them as they now drive the smaller buses.
Additionally, there should be stricter requirements for persons seeking licences to drive vehicles which are used for public transportation. A database of bus drivers should be compiled so as to ensure closer monitoring and harsher penalties must be implemented, that will deter all drivers from violating traffic laws.
We must act now to solve the problem. If we continue to do the same things we will get the same results.
Lloyd H. Marshall.

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