THE TRAFFIC POLICE are again appealing to commuters to be more careful about the buses on which they travel to their various destinations.
Deputy Superintendent Byron Powell of the Police Traffic Division says that passengers need to take greater responsibility for their safety in the public transportation. "We are asking persons to desist from taking buses that are overloaded. If you go in the bus and it is full already, do not go in there," he said.
But while the police are discouraging passengers from contributing to overloading, they are also urging bus operators to keep their buses in good condition. In recent weeks police have been checking more buses for overcrowding and bad tyres.
DSP Powell said that the police have always checked on these things. However, they are placing greater focus on them in light of the role they have played in recent accidents. He is also urging commuters to do the same by checking to see if the tyres are smooth, if there are in breaks in the wall or if the tyres are peeling.
Since the start of year 170 persons have died in accidents along the nation's roads. In one accident along Highway 2000 in May, five persons died and nine others were injured.
The police reports are that a white Toyota Hiace minibus was travelling westerly on the highway from Kingston to Mandeville with about 14 persons on board when, on reaching the Whitewater housing scheme near May Pen, the left rear tyre blew out, causing the vehicle to skid violently, get out of control and overturned.
Also, in an accident along the Spanish Town Road in the same month, three persons were killed and 25 injured. Police had stated then that the Coaster bus which was involved in the collision had 40 passengers on board.
Police say in both cases overcrowding was a factor in the accidents.
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