RTC buses involved in 38% accidents in 2018
■ Officials feel that drivers cannot be blamed entirely
The number of RTC buses being involved in accidents is on the rise, with the latest being a fatal one in Secunderabad. Thirty-eight per cent of accidents reported in the city last year involved RTC buses, traffic police data said.
According to the additional DCP of North Zone S. Srinivas, a case was registered and a chargesheet was made in the recent accident.
Chief functionary of the Indian Federation of Road Safety M. Vinod Kanumula, however, blamed the lack of maintenance of buses for the mishaps. “Bus drivers cannot be blamed entirely, as the road conditions and crowded bus stops leave them stressed,” Mr Kanumala said.
“Imagine driving a heavy-duty vehicle for half a day in the city’s traffic by managing an overcrowded vehicle. The drivers should be given proper orientation and training every few months. When I spoke to the bus drivers, they said nothing was done after training was given for the first six months,” he said.
Mr Kanumala said tyres and parts are changed when a vehicle is taken to RTA officials for a fitness certificate and again changed back to the old ones. “The entire system should be changed as people’s lives are at stake,” he said. “After an accident report, an inquiry is raised and the driver’s license is suspended for six months, if fault is proven.”
Asked the number of police cases against faulty TSRTC bus drivers for causing accidents, an official said they do not record data under that category. “That data will be with the bus depots,” he said.