The city traffic police have written a letter to the PMPML administration to conduct special programmes for drivers to avert accidents and rash driving.
On October 22, a PMPML bus driver had recklessly driven the vehicle in reverse gear, hitting three cars on Senapati Bapat Road.
“It has been observed that PMPML bus drivers are driving rashly on roads and risking the lives of commuters. The October 22 incident is a case in point. The driver could have killed someone that day. We cannot tolerate such behaviour on road,” said deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Vijay Magar.
“In the last one month, we have fined 323 PMPML bus drivers for parking their vehicles anywhere on roads and causing traffic jams or breaking traffic rules. We have requested the PMPML officers to conduct workshops for drivers to ensure that they remain calm while driving on roads,” he said.
“We have also observed that PMPML bus drivers regularly jump red signals, do not follow lane discipline and drive rashly,” he said.
The police constables at chowks are trying to ensure that PMPML buses do not break traffic rules.
PMPML’s public relations officer Satish Gate told TOI that training sessions were on for drivers as well as conductors.
“Last year, all drivers and conductors received training on different aspects of driving, causes of accidents and prevention etc by RTO officials. There has been another training session for drivers and conductors by former PMPML and RTO officials as well as citizen groups like PMP Pravasi Manch,” Gate said.
“Also, 30 drivers are trained daily on various aspects at our meeting hall. So far, 1,100 drivers and conductors have been the beneficiaries of crash and refresher courses,” Gate added.
