Passenger Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has called on authorities to put in place measures that protect road users from reckless driving and save lives.
In an interview with 263chat following the Rimbi bus accident that claimed one life at the 160 km peg along Harare-Nyamapanda Road on Tuesday, PAZ president Tafadzwa Goliati said buses plying the same route should have different timetables.
“We call upon authorities to put measures in place to protect road users, including commuters from death and injuries caused by drivers competing for passengers. Firstly, we recommend that buses serving the same route should have different timetables. We further recommend that these timetables should be advertised.
“The outcome, will be that buses will stop over speeding, blocking each other and ending up being involved in accidents: such as head on collisions, side sweeping or veering off the road. Furthermore, this will reduce the harassment of commuters and being dragged into buses due to buses competing for passengers,” said Goliati
He called on the Government to allow bus operators to have self-regulating organisations as it gives them the power to discipline errant operators.
“We also call upon government to allow bus operators to belong in self-regulating associations with the power to discipline, penalise or deregister an operator. Such associations should work with and be controlled by government regulatory authorities. Road permits should be with the written recommendations of an association.
“This, will reduce the burden of monitoring and controlling of bus operators by ministry of transport departments. Once the monitoring and controlling of buses is enhanced and made effective errant bus operators, and crews can be quickly brought to book. Passengers Associations should also be involved in monitoring and giving feedback that should be used in the implementation of corrective action,” he said
A driver who was driving a Rimbi Tours, Yutong bus due west towards Harare, with 23 passengers on board rammed onto the back of a Shacman Tipper which was travelling in the same direction.
The bus driver was trying to overtake the truck whilst being blocked by a Zebra Kiss bus which was travelling in the same direction.
