Action Plan to minimise private bus road accidents

Irangika Range

Private Transport Services Minister C.B.Ratnayake said an Action Plan will be formulated to enable drivers and conductors of private buses to render their service with more pride and sense of responsibility.

Minister Ratnayake was addressing the first workshop in Nuwara Eliya recently to educate the private bus owners,drivers and conductors to minimize road accidents involving private buses. He said drivers and conductors bear responsibilities for the lives of around 60 passengers at a time and they are expected to be qualified with experience, possess good driving skills and ability to made quick decisions.

"That is why the National Transport Commision (NTC) initiated a series of district wise workshops on the theme of road safety which will be conducted to encourage drivers to obey road rules and minimise traffic violations," he said.

He said 60 percent of the people of Sri Lanka use private buses while the balance of 40 percent use public transport. Therefore, it is necessary to provide satisfactory and punctual service according to the pubic needs.

"We will also create a conducive environment for private bus drivers and conductors to do their job with dignity while taking measures to safeguard the private bus industry," he said.