Deaths on the road: Is BMTC alone to blame?

Deaths on the road: Is BMTC alone to blame?
By S Praveen Dhaneshkar, Bangalore, DH News Service:
The figures are scary as they are with 56 fatalities in just six months as on June 30 in contrast to 87 fatalities reported for 12 months last year.

Accidents involving BMTC buses are a common feature. Sample these statistics. Year 2007 has seen 265 buses of the BMTC being involved in accidents with 49 cases being registered in June alone.

The figures are scary as they are with 56 fatalities in just six months as on June 30 in contrast to 87 fatalities reported for 12 months last year.

A recent incident involving a 15-year-old SSLC student run over by a BMTC bus in Indiranagar is still fresh in the minds of many. The blame game starts with fingers being pointed at reckless driving by BMTC drivers.

Who is at fault? Do other motorists/pedestrians have a responsibility too ?

BMTC Chief Traffic Manager (Commercial) Vishwanath says, “It is easy to blame drivers. We have a strict driver training regimen. Accident-prone drivers are identified at periodical intervals based on their driving history and sent to orientation workshops conducted at depots”

Adds Dastagir Sharieff, Chief Traffic Manager (Operations), “We do admit that accident levels of BMTC are far from satisfactory. This is inspite of the Corporation having the lowest accident rate in the country among public transport undertakings. It is wishful thinking to say that drivers are negligent, they steer the bus in a reckless manner, run over pedestrians and knock down two-wheeler riders. But seldom does anyone talk about erratic road behaviour of other motorists. It is not an easy task to manoeuvre a bus in traffic-clogged Bangalore. It is our endeavour to achieve a zero accident target”

Vehicle of mass
With a fleet strength of 4,796 buses and 8,000 drivers, the BMTC has emerged as the primary people mover of Bangalore catering to 37 lakh daily commuters.

“As many as 3,000 drivers have been recruited recently. The minimum standard while recruiting is two years of experience with a Heavy Transport Vehicle licence. Raw hands are never allowed to drive buses. An in-house driving school with experienced drivers as instructors impart safe driving tips. Buses follow a scientific time schedule. Though drivers are required to keep up the set standards, the Corporation has relaxed the trips per day, in view of the impracticality of buses adhering to time schedule as chock-a-block traffic continues to be an impediment. Leave alone buses, even private vehicles would not be able to keep up time. A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a possible solution to bring down accidents,” says Mr Vishwanath.

To combat stress among drivers, the BMTC conducts musical nites, yoga classes and de-stress programmes.

WHAT DRIVERS SAY?
Thulsiram, Instructor, BMTC driver training centre, a veteran with 33 years of driving experience of Depot 4 (Jayanagar) and a winner of the prestigious Chief Minister’s gold and silver medal for accident free driving said, only drivers with a valid HTV licence and two-plus years of prior driving experience are recruited.

“We divide the recruits in A, B and C categories after assessing their strengths and weaknesses and impart driving lessons. Risk of driving a bus is different from what it was two or three decades ago. Attitude of people is to first point fingers at a heavy vehicle even if they are at fault. The traffic police also book cases of negligent driving against the BMTC driver. It is unfair. But we are used to it” Mr Thulasaram adds.

However, Suresh, a bus driver of Depot 7 (Majestic) with five years of experience says, though the Corporation conducts weekend de-stress programmes and refresher courses for drivers on road safety, the present traffic situation renders it impossible to say buses will not be involved in accidents.

“We do not go about intentionally mowing down people. Safety, while driving is on the top of our minds. Driving a bus is a stressful exercise in traffic. Other road users have a responsibility too. It is better if traffic police bring about drastic changes in implementation of road rules” he adds. Lingappa, a driver of a Volvo bus feels anyone driving on congested roads today is at risk.

“It is better if enforcement of lane discipline is taken into consideration by those who plan traffic rules. Sadly, none seem bothered about the drivers point of view” he rues.

Accidents involving BMTC buses
From Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2006 : 448
From Jan 1 to June 30, 2007 : 265

BMTC has driver training regimen where accident-prone drivers are identified and sent to orientation workshops

BMTC has lowest accident rate in the country among public transport undertakings

Erratic road behaviour of other motorists equally to blame

Bus Rapid Transit possible solution

BMTC conducts musical nites, yoga classes to de-stress driversDeaths on the road: Is BMTC alone to blame?
By S Praveen Dhaneshkar, Bangalore, DH News Service:
The figures are scary as they are with 56 fatalities in just six months as on June 30 in contrast to 87 fatalities reported for 12 months last year.

Accidents involving BMTC buses are a common feature. Sample these statistics. Year 2007 has seen 265 buses of the BMTC being involved in accidents with 49 cases being registered in June alone.

The figures are scary as they are with 56 fatalities in just six months as on June 30 in contrast to 87 fatalities reported for 12 months last year.

A recent incident involving a 15-year-old SSLC student run over by a BMTC bus in Indiranagar is still fresh in the minds of many. The blame game starts with fingers being pointed at reckless driving by BMTC drivers.

Who is at fault? Do other motorists/pedestrians have a responsibility too ?

BMTC Chief Traffic Manager (Commercial) Vishwanath says, “It is easy to blame drivers. We have a strict driver training regimen. Accident-prone drivers are identified at periodical intervals based on their driving history and sent to orientation workshops conducted at depots”

Adds Dastagir Sharieff, Chief Traffic Manager (Operations), “We do admit that accident levels of BMTC are far from satisfactory. This is inspite of the Corporation having the lowest accident rate in the country among public transport undertakings. It is wishful thinking to say that drivers are negligent, they steer the bus in a reckless manner, run over pedestrians and knock down two-wheeler riders. But seldom does anyone talk about erratic road behaviour of other motorists. It is not an easy task to manoeuvre a bus in traffic-clogged Bangalore. It is our endeavour to achieve a zero accident target”

Vehicle of mass
With a fleet strength of 4,796 buses and 8,000 drivers, the BMTC has emerged as the primary people mover of Bangalore catering to 37 lakh daily commuters.

“As many as 3,000 drivers have been recruited recently. The minimum standard while recruiting is two years of experience with a Heavy Transport Vehicle licence. Raw hands are never allowed to drive buses. An in-house driving school with experienced drivers as instructors impart safe driving tips. Buses follow a scientific time schedule. Though drivers are required to keep up the set standards, the Corporation has relaxed the trips per day, in view of the impracticality of buses adhering to time schedule as chock-a-block traffic continues to be an impediment. Leave alone buses, even private vehicles would not be able to keep up time. A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a possible solution to bring down accidents,” says Mr Vishwanath.

To combat stress among drivers, the BMTC conducts musical nites, yoga classes and de-stress programmes.

WHAT DRIVERS SAY?
Thulsiram, Instructor, BMTC driver training centre, a veteran with 33 years of driving experience of Depot 4 (Jayanagar) and a winner of the prestigious Chief Minister’s gold and silver medal for accident free driving said, only drivers with a valid HTV licence and two-plus years of prior driving experience are recruited.

“We divide the recruits in A, B and C categories after assessing their strengths and weaknesses and impart driving lessons. Risk of driving a bus is different from what it was two or three decades ago. Attitude of people is to first point fingers at a heavy vehicle even if they are at fault. The traffic police also book cases of negligent driving against the BMTC driver. It is unfair. But we are used to it” Mr Thulasaram adds.

However, Suresh, a bus driver of Depot 7 (Majestic) with five years of experience says, though the Corporation conducts weekend de-stress programmes and refresher courses for drivers on road safety, the present traffic situation renders it impossible to say buses will not be involved in accidents.

“We do not go about intentionally mowing down people. Safety, while driving is on the top of our minds. Driving a bus is a stressful exercise in traffic. Other road users have a responsibility too. It is better if traffic police bring about drastic changes in implementation of road rules” he adds. Lingappa, a driver of a Volvo bus feels anyone driving on congested roads today is at risk.

“It is better if enforcement of lane discipline is taken into consideration by those who plan traffic rules. Sadly, none seem bothered about the drivers point of view” he rues.

Accidents involving BMTC buses
From Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2006 : 448
From Jan 1 to June 30, 2007 : 265

BMTC has driver training regimen where accident-prone drivers are identified and sent to orientation workshops

BMTC has lowest accident rate in the country among public transport undertakings

Erratic road behaviour of other motorists equally to blame

Bus Rapid Transit possible solution

BMTC conducts musical nites, yoga classes to de-stress drivers