The bus drivers in district will see a streamlining of sorts in the coming days. The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) is planning to introduce a psychological evaluation of bus drivers to determine whether they are mentally fit for the job.
The cleansing is part of their efforts to curb the number of accidents in the district. The department will seek the support of psychologists to implement the project.
They will identify the drivers unfit for the job to provide counselling. MVD is planning to give counselling to drivers who have a history of repeated accidents. “There is a certain percentage of drivers who cause recurring accidents due to their carelessness. Their emotional instability is the main cause for this. KSRTC has facility at present to identify such drivers and disqualify. We are also going to adopt such policy amongst the drivers of private buses. This is necessary to curb accidents,” Malappuram Regional Transport Officer, M P Ajith Kumar said.
MVD will conduct several rounds of counselling before disqualifying a bus driver. They are also planning to give awareness classes to all the drivers in the district to help them prevent rash driving and accidents. The classes will be held every Wednesday at the Malappuram Regional Transport Office (RTO). Officials from the departments like MVD, police, Excise, health, media, public workers, legal experts and psychologists will take the classes. MVD will distribute photo identity card to the drivers who attend awareness classes.
Those without ID cards will not be allowed to drive buses. The class will be repeated every six months. The drivers will be provided food and Rs 250 for attending the class. MVD will also select the best bus driver at the district and taluk levels at the road safety week next year.