VietNamNet Bridge – The failure of bus firms to manage their vehicles properly was the main cause of traffic unsafety, said Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho after his inspections in central provinces of Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai and Thua Thien-Hue.

Thach Nhu Sy, deputy chief inspector of the ministry, said enterprises were violating the regulations on issuing operating licences to drivers, supervision of vehicles and drivers, and the installation of black boxes (devices installed in vehicles to monitor their routes).

The inspection has found that many drivers had to pay money to be allowed to travel on specific routes and to buy company logos.

About 50, 80 and 40 per cent of inspected enterprises in Thua Thien-Hue, Binh Dinh and Quang Ngai provinces respectively entrusted their drivers with the operation and maintenance of vehicles but many didn't have labour contracts that covered such responsibilities, he said.

To deal with their responsibilities, drivers had to reduce expenses related to regular maintenance of vehicles and they regularly exceeded the speed limit to save time and increase the number of passengers.

The data from black boxes showed about 80 per cent of drivers exceeded the speed limited.

Tho's inspection was one of seven ongoing drives in 21 provinces and cities nationwide to detect violations of transport enterprises that might result in traffic accidents.

Based on their reports, more effective measures to manage the operation of buses would be put forward.

Serious violations would result in the suspension of their operations, he said.

The statistics of the Roads Directorate showed that inter-provincial buses carried 90 per cent of passengers in the country and that most serious transport accidents were related to buses.

Around 80 per cent of bus accidents were caused by small-scale private transport companies that had not properly invested in safety management.

The latest serious accident happened in June when seven teachers were killed and 21 injured after a bus crashed in central Khanh Hoa Province after its brakes failed.

Source: VNS