Screams today's Sunday Star. People who are frequent travellers of express buses, especially those late night ones would know how reckless and irresponsible bus drivers are.
Not only are they a danger to the passengers, they are also causing problems for other road users. Can you imagine placing YOUR LIFE on the hands of these people? People who MAY be drug addicts, people who MAY have a criminal record, people who MAY have committed numerous traffic offences? How they are even hired in the first place without a background check is a mystery.
Once you hop onto a public vehicle, you are practically handing your safety and life to the driver of the vehicle, whether it is a taxi, bus, an airplane or even a cruise ship. We do want people who are responsible and would take extra care at the helm, as if the passengers are their own family members.
Actually, this matter has been long in need of a solution. I have been told that bus drivers do not get paid. Maybe they DO have a basic pay, I do not know, but their income comes from getting a fixed rate for each trip they completed. Naturally, drivers would want to pack in as many trips as possible every day so that they have a decent amount of money at the end of the month.
If you have tried asking the bus driver to slow down, you would be chided with, "This is an EXPRESS bus. If it's not fast, then it is not EXPRESS!" In this latest bus accident, it looks like it was an EXPRESS route to Hell (or Heaven depending on how you want to look at it).
I think it is the duty of responsible citizens, whether we are express bus commuters or regular road users, to voice out our concerns and press for solutions and fast too. Please speak up if you can command even an iota or attention, please bring on your suggestions because it looks like the powers that be, those who have never ever ridden on a express bus before, are stumped for ideas that's why this matter has not been addressed for such a long time.
Please do something, anything, so that people do not get killed for nothing!
Not only are they a danger to the passengers, they are also causing problems for other road users. Can you imagine placing YOUR LIFE on the hands of these people? People who MAY be drug addicts, people who MAY have a criminal record, people who MAY have committed numerous traffic offences? How they are even hired in the first place without a background check is a mystery.
Once you hop onto a public vehicle, you are practically handing your safety and life to the driver of the vehicle, whether it is a taxi, bus, an airplane or even a cruise ship. We do want people who are responsible and would take extra care at the helm, as if the passengers are their own family members.
Actually, this matter has been long in need of a solution. I have been told that bus drivers do not get paid. Maybe they DO have a basic pay, I do not know, but their income comes from getting a fixed rate for each trip they completed. Naturally, drivers would want to pack in as many trips as possible every day so that they have a decent amount of money at the end of the month.
If you have tried asking the bus driver to slow down, you would be chided with, "This is an EXPRESS bus. If it's not fast, then it is not EXPRESS!" In this latest bus accident, it looks like it was an EXPRESS route to Hell (or Heaven depending on how you want to look at it).
I think it is the duty of responsible citizens, whether we are express bus commuters or regular road users, to voice out our concerns and press for solutions and fast too. Please speak up if you can command even an iota or attention, please bring on your suggestions because it looks like the powers that be, those who have never ever ridden on a express bus before, are stumped for ideas that's why this matter has not been addressed for such a long time.
Please do something, anything, so that people do not get killed for nothing!
2 comments:
Safety should always come first, especially with regards to public transport. It is sad but true, bus drivers are sometimes exploited because of the need to earn money.
By the way, my friend, I've submitted an entry to a local contest - 2007 Wika Project. It focuses on Filipino as our national language. If you have time, please vote for my article (if you like the piece, of course).
The URL is at http://anitokid.blogspot.com/2007/08/filipino-bonding-nation-and-its-people.html
AnitoKid
Hi AnitoKid,
Thanks for dropping by! You wrote a very good article there but is the voting on now? I don't see your article on the competition site?
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