The Sunday Mail
Cresencia Marjorie Chiremba
THE increase in road accidents and fatalities revolves around issues such as fatigue, poor or lack of driver training, overloading, contempt of traffic laws, road unworthy vehicles, inconsiderate driver behaviour, pressure from the employer to meet certain time and financial targets, and poor roads.
Although there are road traffic warnings for both public passenger transport and private freight companies, the number of accidents continue to rise.
What is more worrisome is that the number of occupants in these vehicles who get killed or injured. For instance, a recent report showed that two Honda Fit cars pirating collided and there were 17 passengers on board, when the usual carrying capacity of such a vehicle is five passengers at most.
On the other hand, the customers themselves are partly to blame.
This is so, because for these operators to be in business there must be a ready market for these vehicles.
If the commuting public shuns them, then there will soon be out of business.
With all the red flags of dangerous driving on display, such as abrupt stops in the middle of the road to pick or drop passengers, unsafe overtaking and drunken driving, it is still a surprise that the same customers still prefer to get services from them.
Also, with all the police traffic patrols and numerous road blocks, it seems the war against traffic accidents will be a long one.
It requires that all stakeholders play their part.
Here are some recommendations to reduce carnage on our roads, and improve the commuting public’s safety:
1. Compulsory Vehicle Branding
All public transporters must be branded with the operator’s name and contact details. This will make it easier for the public to report bad driving to relevant authorities. Stickers like “How’s my Driving?’ are necessary so that unsatisfied customers and other road users can make complaints.
With today’s technologies, photos and videos can be taken and be posted on social media. There are plenty of review sites and social media networks where people can post bad driver’s bad behaviour. These posts can be shared and people can put comments. Imagine the perception that your brand will get when the public see videos and photos of bad driving of your company vehicle.
2. A National Employment Council
It is high time that there is NEC that looks into the current employment and working conditions, including agreements, compensation, remuneration and incentive schemes for public transport drivers, and commercial professional drivers.
This will help the general public to have an understanding of what is really contributing to unsafe driving habits by public transport drivers, and to map a way forward. Perhaps a framework may be developed that will be a yardstick for employer/ employee agreement governing the employment conditions for drivers. A breach by one part may result in a disciplinary action or heavy fine instituted by the NEC.
3. Fleet Quality and Safety Management Systems
Due to exploitation of drivers by operators, all transporters must have a fleet quality and safety management system that includes training and skills development, time management for drivers, vehicle maintenance and safety management plans.
Drivers are usually forced to exceed acceptable driving hours, overload passengers so as to collect as much income as possible for both the employer and the bus crews. The proposed systems may abolish the exploitation.
In terms of safety, like what most mining companies do, big notice boards must be erected at the operators’ garage or workshop entrances that show the number of accidents recorded for a particular period.
4. Working Hours and Qualifications
Organisations must control the maximum driving and working hours of their drivers. Compelling drivers to handle as many trips as possible in the shortest possible time should be banned. There should be a timetable that shows maximum number of trips a vehicle can undertake in a day.
Apart from obtaining the standard licence, if one is to become a professional driver, they should undergo an advanced driver training programme for professional drivers. Transport operators must also check if their drivers’ licences were not acquired fraudulently.
5. Vehicle Road Worthiness
Some operators tend to cut corners when servicing their fleets to reduce expenses. Their vehicles are used extensively, resulting in worn out tyres, worn out brakes. We also see use of inferior replacement parts so as to save on costs and maximise on profits. To curb these vices, public transport vehicles must go for road worthiness testing at least on a quarterly basis, while speed limit devices must be installed on all passenger transport and freight vehicles.
To reduce tyre blowouts, the vehicles must be fitted with devices on wheels that will assist drivers to retain better control of the vehicles when there are tyre bursts.
Additionally, operators must have devices that allows them to undertake remote real time monitoring, and be able to control both the driver and the vehicle.
6. Road Maintenance
The state of our roads has also deteriorated over the years with some major roads spotting potholes, vandalised or no road signs like warning signs, while fences that used to keep stray animals like cattle and donkeys from the roads have been stolen or damaged. Drivers must therefore be alert on these roads and exercise extreme caution.
7. Customer Voice
Commuters must be given the voice to air out any grievances in regards to bad driving by public transporters. The department in charge of public transport operators must give passengers access to the complaints desk, and action must be taken against errant drivers or operators. This may include suspending or cancelling their licences.
*Cresencia Marjorie Chiremba is a marketing enthusiast with a strong passion for customer service. For comments, suggestions and training, she can be reached on [email protected] or on 0712 979 461, 0719 978 335
