Spike in accidents of KSRTC buses in Thiruvananthapuram
two senior women were run over by KSRTC buses at Attingal and Statue respectively. A week later three more were killed.
Thiruvananthapuram: Accidents involving KSRTC buses have killed five people in a week in the capital city, and the transport body is yet to tighten its safety standards.
A dangerous cocktail of narrow, congested roads and rash driving causes death every week in the capital where KSRTC operates more buses than private players.
Last Tuesday, two senior women were run over by KSRTC buses at Attingal and Statue respectively. A week later three more were killed.
As per State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), accidents involving KSRTC have increased as it killed 216 in 2015 as against 195 in 2014. The statistics for this year are yet to be released.
The KSRTC which rarely reprimand drivers for rash driving employs many who have caused accidents in the past. Empanelled drivers are given bigger responsibilities soon after joining, increasing accidents.
“The regular accident makers are sent again for training. Many a time, the KSRTC drivers unreasonably blamed for accidents that are caused by two wheelers. Hence, reprimanding is not always a solution,” said a senior KSRTC official.
As per KSRTC bus drivers, the conditions of their buses are too dangerous compared to private buses.
“Brakes in many buses are too weak, and it’s just sheer luck that saves us most of the time. There have been incidents of wheels and even gear box getting separated from moving vehicles,” complained a driver at the central depot.