It is being hoped that serious consideration has been given to passenger safety, if Government does move ahead with recently announced plans to allow minibuses and tour coaches to enter bus terminals at peak times to ply select routes and ease delays.
Speaking to The Barbados Advocate recently, President of the Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA), Sharmane Roland-Bowen said the Association supports the move as it can help the commuting public, but warns that it should not start unless measures are put in place to ensure the optimum safety of passengers and the thousands of other road users in this country.
She is suggesting that in addition to the initiative only being extended to drivers over the age of 25, who have been driving for no less than five years, it is imperative that the relevant authorities ensure that the vehicles to be used are 100 per cent road worthy. Moreover, she said there has to be proper scheduling so that there is still not a situation of persons being stranded.
“We hope that those PSV [public service vehicles] who will be afforded the opportunity to ply those routes that the owners are really on board and when I say that, I mean that they are willing to make sure that their drivers are fully compliant with the various road traffic rules and regulations,” she said.
Roland-Bowen made the call as she also said it is important that in general enhanced standards are put in place for those working in the PSV sector, contending that there should be “more stringent” rules enforced for PSV drivers to carry passengers.
“They should be provided with adequate and ongoing training because they are carrying human lives. That is a big responsibility and they should not be behaving on the road in the reckless way some of them currently do. That needs to come to an end; they need to see that because of responsibility placed on them, they are held to higher standards. This training is even more crucial if we are looking to incorporate PSV within the Government’s operations through the Transport Board and it is a way of lifting or raising the standards for these people,” she stated.
The BRSA head said that the training should be focused on driving defensively and how to prevent and avoid accidents. Her comments came as she further suggested that the PSV owners should, in trying to improve the overall the standards of their employees, requiring them to take random breathalyser tests, to ensure that none are under the influence of alcohol when transporting passengers.
“There are companies here that do subject employees who drive for them to random breathalyser testing, they have not waited for legislation, recognising that as employers they have to set standards for how they want and expect their businesses to operate. I have heard and seen for myself, these minibus persons stopping at the shops to buy their beers, Guinness and whatnot and I would not like to see that taking place under an amalgamated system. So if Government is going to allow the private operators to assist them, then they have a duty to ensure that does not occur,” she maintained.
The road safety advocate added, “We also have to cognisant of the fact that there are some people that only use the Transport Board, and if the PSV are going to be plying certain routes and may be the only mode of transportation at certain times they have to be top notch.”
Additionally, she said drivers who become part of the proposed system should be given an amnesty with respect to any current road traffic violations, so that they can start with a slate clean. If at any time then that they are found to be doing wrong on the roads, she is adamant that the punishment should be a stiff one. (JRT)
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