Mangaluru: Private bus drivers face penalties for negligent driving, pedestrian fatalities

The Mangaluru City Police Commissioner, Anupam Agarwal, has announced that drivers and conductors of private and service buses in the city will face penalties for reckless and negligent driving resulting in pedestrian fatalities or accidents. Offenders will also be booked under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The directive was issued during a meeting organized by the police department in collaboration with the City Bus Owners Association and Regional Transport Authority (RTA) officials. In an effort to improve safety, Commissioner Agarwal urged bus owners to encourage responsible behavior among their employees, including conductors and drivers, and discourage rash driving.

The Commissioner emphasized the need for the RTA to regulate bus timings to prevent competition between private buses, which often leads to reckless driving. He also suggested that bus owners display boards prohibiting passengers from standing on the footboard to enhance safety.

In cases where passengers fall from footboards and suffer fatal injuries, both bus conductors and drivers, as well as bus owners, will be held accountable. The Commissioner urged the Bus Owners’ Association to educate the public about these safety measures.

Furthermore, drivers using shrill horns exceeding prescribed decibel levels under the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) will have their licenses and permits canceled. Any violations of permit conditions will also result in stringent action.

Commissioner Agarwal emphasized that the meeting aimed to find concrete solutions to these issues and acknowledged the vital role played by private buses in the city’s transportation and development.

Aziz Parthipady of the Bus Owners’ Association noted their efforts to promote behavioral changes among conductors and drivers but acknowledged the need for more effective implementation.

Ravishankar, the Regional Transport Officer, expressed concern over increasing competition and rash driving, calling for collaborative efforts to resolve the problem. He cited examples of cities with separate lanes for private buses, suggesting such a system could improve safety.

The Commissioner urged the RTA, Bus Owners’ Association, and traffic authorities to work together to find a lasting solution to prevent accidents and protect innocent lives.

The meeting was attended by DCPs Dinesh Kumar, Sidharth Goyal, and other stakeholders.