SEREMBAN: Twenty four express bus drivers landed in hot soup when they were issued with summonses for neglecting the safety of passengers during the Chinese New Year holiday season.
They were nabbed by the Negri Sembilan Road Transport Department (RTD) in an undercover operation codenamed 'Op Penyamaran'.
Negri Sembilan RTD director Hanif Yusabra Yusuf said the undercover operation between Feb 1- 14 was held in conjunction with the Chinese New Year . It saw a total of 64 offences committed by express bus drivers.
He said among the offences were driving in the right lane (12 summonses); not having a second driver on board; or continuous driving for a journey that exceeds 300km or four hours (seven summonses).
"In addition, other offences include drivers smoking (two summonses), failure to maintain logbooks (nine summonses), disregarding traffic signals (seven summonses), and other offences (27 summonses)," he said, when contacted today.
Hanif said during each festive season, RTD personnel would disguise themselves as bus passengers travelling across the country to nab errant express bus drivers who put the lives of passengers at risk.
"The undercover technique used by RTD in which they pose as bus passengers has been very effective in detecting offences committed by bus drivers, especially when they have been repeatedly advised not to neglect the safety of passengers.
"Sadly there are still some who are stubborn and continue to violate regulations. Every regulation is aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers, drivers and other road users. Neglecting these regulations jeopardises the lives of passengers."
He said action was taken against the drivers and bus owners under the Road Transport Act 1987 and its regulations, as well as the Land Public Transport Act (APAD) 2010.