Emotional pleas don’t move APSRTC drivers

Hyderabad: In the hope that it would make them drive in a more responsible manner, the APSRTC management had suggested that drivers place photographs of their family members in their cabins. But such appeals to their emotions have not had the intended effect and many drivers have been packed off to driving classes.

A few days ago, an APSRTC bus ran over a citizen in Vanasthalipuram who died on the spot. The APSRTC has been sending drivers for health and eye check-ups as well.

The idea of putting up the photos of family members was a suggestion from the management. “Although it is an advisory from our end, it’s a personal decision left to the drivers. This was one of our ways to introduce the concept of defensive driving among the drivers but most have rejected the idea. As it is a personal decision, we cannot force drivers to put their family photographs,”said a senior official.

There have been complaints from passengers too. Amnaje Yuvaraj posted on the Facebook page of the APSRTC: “Till now  I haven’t  found any of the drivers keeping photograph on the dashboard …and please tell your drivers to follow the traffic rules and tell them to stop the bus till the passengers get inside so that they can avoid accidents.”

Roughly, 20 drivers lose their jobs every month for rash driving and ignoring passengers’ safety.

“On an average, each depot sacks 20 drivers each month after trying to put them through all our corrective techniques like refresher training, fitness tests, counselling, emotional training and even taking them off driving for one to two months,” said the official. Yet, the number of drivers sent for driving lessons and the number being sacked is the same as last year.