Final destination: Beware Bengaluru's killer buses

BMTC buses are claiming lives every day now, with commuters on two-wheelers falling prey most often to these out-of-control giants. Safety training for drivers hasn’t helped, partly because the schedules, unchanged in nearly 15 years, force drivers to speed and has bred a “don’t care for lives” culture.

As a young life was snuffed out on Sunday, with a student from Mysuru coming under the wheels of a BMTC bus,  the transport corporation’s “killer” reputation only got stronger.   But this time the BBMP too has to share the  blame  as its potholed roads clearly played the villain in this latest fatal accident.

Read: Guest Column - Adjust schedules to avoid reckless driving

While its easy to play the blame game, commuters and transport experts alike believe the time has come to look at the issue dispassionately and come  up with solutions so that more lives are not lost on the roads.

Trying to get to the root of what is ailing the BMTC and its drivers,   Ms Lekha Adavi of  Bengaluru Bus Prayaanikara  Vedike, is doing a fact finding study of accidents involving BMTC buses. Concerned by transport minister, Ramalinga Reddy’s statement that there had been 60 accidents involving buses on the roads in 2015-16, the organization decided it was time to get to the bottom of the matter.

Having spoken to drivers’ unions, Ms Adavi now believes some of accidents may have been caused due to poor maintenance of  BMTC buses. “Either their brakes don’t work at times or they have low headlights. Also,  they are running on a very old schedule, which says they have to travel from Majestic to Whitefield in an hour, which is close to impossible. Infrastructure at bus stands too has contributed to the rise in accidents. For example, so poorly have the entry and exits to the Shivajinagar bus stand been planned that the driver often cannot see the oncoming vehicle,” Ms Adavi says, adding, “I am also not sure what kind of training these drivers receive.”   

Civic activist, Vinay Sreenivas, too believes there are several issues that need to be studied before apportioning blame for the accidents. “Sometimes the driver is under a lot of pressure and stress as he has schedules to meet. The BMTC’s timetable has not been revised for the last 15 years although traffic has increased manifold during this time. Then again  the buses are often old and damaged,” he points out. Recalling that when three people were killed in an accident on the  Lingrajpuram flyover two years ago, the  BMTC denied it was at fault , and blamed another vehicle tying to overtake it for the incident, he says it anyway suspended the driver only to learn later that he had  tried apply  the brake, but it did not work.

“In the latest accident on Sunday, there was a pothole too. So we need to see if the BBMP too has a role to play in the rising accidents on city roads,” he says.

Mr. Rajesh Nag R, a logistic expert agrees that the poor condition of city roads and driver and pedestrian indiscipline are also to blame for  the increasing accidents. "While poor roads are claiming more lives, people too are often careless when crossing roads. The BMTC alone cannot be held responsible for the accidents," he reasons.

Says a BMTC officer, "It is easy to label the BMTC’s fleet as  “killer buses,” but it operates the highest number of schedules on heavily congested city roads. We need scientifically planned roads free of  potholes to make driving safe for everyone."

But a bus crew member feels its time the BMTC rethinks its schedules as well. "When fixing  schedules issues liketraffic jam are not considered. This forces the drivers to overspeed,” he rues.

Recent accidents involving BMTC buses
May 22: Speeding BMTC bus kills a 17-year-old girl from Mysuru
May 16: BMTC bus ran over a woman near Prasanna theater; dies on spot
April 7: Two wheeler raider crushed to death near Devanahalli
March 14: BMTC bus mows down a sweeper near Yesvantpur bus terminus
January 6: A two wheeler driver hit by BMTC bus near HAL museum dies on spot.

Passengers should keep an eye on drivers: BMTC official
The Bengaluru traffic police claims it does not spare BMTC drivers for traffic violations. “Penalties for traffic violations of any kind, irrespective of the authority or person involved,  are applicable to all. We are booking cases of overspeeding against BMTC buses,” says a traffic police officer.    

But the BMTC, which operates around 6,250 schedules a day,  claims the number of accidents involving  its fleets has fallen over the years although its service goes beyond the BMTC’s borders.

Says a BMTC official, “We have been sensitising our drivers about road safety and will further sensitise them. But  passengers should keep an eye on the drivers and ask them to slow down if need be. They can also lodge complaints against the drivers through our helpline, website and the mobile application which will be launched shortly. I request the people to help us in making our buses safer.”

Experts meanwhile emphasise the need to educate the BMTC drivers on road discipline,  creating a separate bus lane on roads  and bringing down the work pressure on the drivers to curb accidents  and the acompanying loss of lives.

Logistics expert, Rajesh Nag R, says  many forums engaged in finding a solution to the traffic woes of the city have supported the idea of bus lanes. "That could solve the problem. But the question is whether it is possible to create such bus lanes on the narrow congested  roads of Bengaluru," he adds.

Highlights
Training the bus crew members.
Constant monitoring of the bus condition.
Immediate implementation of separate bus lane proposal.
Improving the road condition
Traffic discipline among the general public