Increase in accidents involving BMTC buses
BANGALORE: On February 10, a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus claimed the life of a 45-year-old software employee on the spot, also leaving three cars and a bike damaged after the Volvo bus rammed into the vehicles near Shilpa Choultry Junction on Bannerghatta Road. A similar incident was witnessed when a 35-year-old private firm employee, HM Yogesh was killed when a BMTC bus hit his bike at Banashankari bus stand on January 30.
In almost all the cases, police have attributed the increasing number of accidents to rash and negligent driving by the bus drivers. Commenting on the rising number of accidents, Additional Commissioner MA Saleem said, “Last year, we have witnessed a downward trend in accidents involving BMTC buses. But starting with the new year, we have again seen an alarming rise in accidents. In most of the cases, what we have observed is that rash driving is the reason for such mishaps.” He added, “In fact, we’re writing a letter to the BMTC for training the drivers, to focus on their driving skills since they have good facilities and the drivers are imparted proper driving lessons.” On measures required to be taken on the part of pedestrians, he said, “Even people should be careful while crossing roads and riding two-wheelers. In a recent incident, a lady got down from a bus and tried to cross the road without even noticing another bus coming from the other side of the road. I request the people to make use of the pedestrian crossing as much as possible.”
On the precautionary measures initiated by the BMTC to reduce the number of accidents, Managing Director for BMTC, KR Sreenivas said, “We’re advising the drivers to drive carefully. And we are identifying drivers who are prone to accidents, after which we refer them to undergo a special training. If they are not found satisfactory, we make them go through the training again. However in worst case scenario, we dismiss the driver and take punitive action.”
He further added, “Last year, I’d appealed to the drivers to be careful while driving. However, it is always the larger vehicle that is blamed for the accidents even if the fault is not theirs. In most cases, the victims are the two-wheeler riders and it is unfortunate.”