BMTC buses are killing less people now

BMTC buses are killing less people now

Raghavendra RFirst Published : 18 Jan 2010 04:26:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 18 Jan 2010 08:14:30 AM IST
BANGALORE: Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), which had recorded the highest number of deaths and fatal accidents involving its buses in 2007, seems to be redeeming itself.
Thanks to the frequent training and counselling imparted to its drivers by the BMTC —that had earned the name ‘Killer BMTC’—its authorities can now heave a sigh of relief.
Data for last two years reveal that there has been a marginal fall in the number of reported deaths and fatal accidents due to BMTC buses despite an increase in the number of buses.
In 2007, the number of deaths and fatal accidents was 113 and 113 respectively. However, in 2008 the number of deaths and fatal accidents came down to 96 and 95 respectively, and in 2009 the number stood at 88 and 85 respectively.
From 1999 to 2009, BMTC buses have killed 849 people and have been involved in 819 fatal accidents.
The reasons cited by the BMTC drivers for the accidents are: phenomenal rise in the city’s vehicular population, deadlines and fuel mileage set by the authorities.
Divisional Traffic Officer (Accident Section) of BMTC Nitin Hegde said that the identified in-service accident-prone and low kilometres per litre drivers are now being trained at Ashok Leyland’s training institute in Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu; besides being trained in the BMTC’s training centre at Shantinagar.
He further added that safety teams have been formed in all depots.
The official said that frequent training and counselling to BMTC bus drivers has helped in bringing down the accident graph.