Strict rules for employment of bus crew

by Rajmi Manatunga

In the wake of increasing road accidents involving private buses, transport authorities have decided to bring in stricter regulations for the training and employment of private bus employees.

A new set of regulations requiring all persons employed as private bus drivers and conductors to receive special training under a centralised institution will shortly come into force in the Western province.

Western Province Transport Authority Chairman J.M. Somasiri told the Daily News that in terms of the new regulations private bus owners will not be permitted to employ persons of their choice as drivers or conductors disregarding their competence and discipline.

"Employing inexperienced persons as private bus drivers is one major cause for the decline in road safety while undisciplined conductors are also a constant subject of public complaints. The proposed rules seek to address these issues," he said.

Accordingly, steps will be taken to set up a centralised squad of private bus drivers and conductors under the provincial transport authority which will provide extensive training to all private bus employees within the province.

"Private bus owners will be allowed to employ as drivers and conductors only those who have received training under this institution after obtaining a valid driving licence. We are formulating the new rules," he said.

Somasiri said that special training will be mandatory for all existing private bus drivers and conductors as well.

"Under the proposed system, the Authority will also be able to provide trained divers and conductors from the squad to bus owners if they so request," he added.

According to Transport Ministry statistics, over 50 per cent of the island's private bus population of 17,000 operate within the Western Province.

Private buses comprise nearly 70 per cent of the country's entire bus population.