As per KSRTC bus drivers, the condition of their buses is very poor increasing chances of accidents.
Motor Department Officials inspecting a bike that came under the wheels of a KSRTC bus. (Photo: File pic)
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The signal at RR lamp junction at LMS, Thiruvananthapuram turned red for traffic that took a turn towards Palayam.
However, the driver of a Kerala State Transport Corporation bus (KL 15 A 71) was in no mood to stop, he jumped the signal and swerved past the corner.
A two-wheeler rider who moved forward after getting the green signal had a narrow escape or he would have crashed onto the side of the bus.
Not everyone is so lucky and hardly a day passes in Kerala without people being killed by a bus, mostly driven by rogue drivers.
Earlier this week, the only son of the Kerala University Vice-Chancellor was run over by a bus. The personal staff member of MLA Ganesh Kumar was killed in a separate incident.
As per State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), accidents involving KSRTC have dipped slightly from 207 accidents in 2010 to above 175 in 2014.
However, the number of people killed in KSRTC mishaps was 175 in 2014 as against 231 in 2010. The 2015 statistics are not yet out.
“The Vice-Chancellor’s son was hit by some other vehicle but he came under our bus’s wheel. Our drivers are adequately trained for safe driving. What can we do if accidents happen? ,” KSRTC MD Anthony Chacko told Deccan Chronicle when asked whether any extra effort was being taken to reduce mishaps.
As per KSRTC bus drivers, the condition of their buses is very poor increasing chances of accidents.
“There have been times when the gear lever comes out while driving. A few months back, the gearbox of a low floor bus fell on the road. Wheels just come off while we are driving and brakes do fail. A KSRTC driver is as good or as bad as a private bus driver but our vehicles are very poorly maintained,” complained a driver attached to the central depot.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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