Award scheme for BMTC drivers fails to peg back accidents

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has been making efforts to ensure that its drivers have an accident-free track record.

But the efforts seem to have come to a nought as the number of accidents and fatalities caused by them continues to increase.

In the past one-and-a-half month, three accidents involving BMTC buses have been reported and two of them have resulted in fatalities.

BMTC has introduced a reward system for drivers, which includes gold medals and cash awards for bus drivers with an accident-free track record. More recently, a bus conductors’ category was added to the awards scheme to encourage the crew to ensure safe rides.
Before being inducted as drivers, drivers also undergo in-service training and take part in orientation sessions.

Commuters have, on several occasions, complained about buses being rashly driven. The traffic policemen have issued warnings to the erring drivers. But nothing has come out of it.

Shruthi Gowda commutes every day on bus number 314 from Indiranagar to Mysore Bank Circle where her office is located.

She says, “Most of the time, drivers are engaged in a competition. They want to overtake one another and thus end up driving rashly. The commuters have to bear the brunt. Often they are scared out of their wits, as the rash driving may end up in accidents”.

Rohith, another regular commuter, complains about drivers being constantly on their mobile phones. “Many times, the drivers are busy chatting away while handling the wheel. Traffic cops at the signals fail to take note of this. Commuters have no choice but to bear the consequences,” he said.

However, BMTC officials maintain that rash driving is dealt with seriously. The drivers are issued warnings and due procedures are in place to punish them for negligence, they said.

“The BMTC drivers are not often to be blamed. Other vehicle riders too are equally responsible. They try to overtake the BMTC buses and our drivers end up taking the blame,” said another official.