http://www.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Transport/Story/A1Story20100817-232602.html
Wed, Aug 18, 2010
The New Paper
'Driver couldn't get this out of parking lot'
[top photo: BENDY BUS - An SMRT bendy bus, like the one the driver was operating.]
By Arul John
THE bus driver could not seem to reverse the bendy bus out of its parking lot. She even had to ask for help.
That was when the truth was revealed - she had not been trained to drive bendy buses at all.
This SMRT bus driver, a woman in her 50s, was preparing to drive bendy bus service 302 from Choa Chu Kang Interchange on July10.
The service operates between Choa Chu Kang Interchange and the Yew Tee area.
Bendy buses are about 18m long - 11/2 times longer than normal buses. They can take in 125 passengers each - 40 more than a single-decked normal bus.
When the driver, who has been an SMRT service leader for more than 10 years, tried to reverse the bus out of the parking lot, she had difficulty doing so.
An eyewitness who saw the incident told The New Paper: "After a few tries, she had to ask for help from the staff at the interchange.
"When the staff member asked her why she found it hard to reverse the bus, she said she was actually not qualified to drive bendy buses."
The eyewitness said the bus was empty at the time, but he had overheard her conversation with the interchange staff.
She then got off the bus, and another driver helped reverse the bus out of the parking lot before she took over the wheel.
It is not known if the woman, who has a Class 4A licence and an Omnibus Driver's Vocational Licence, was scheduled to drive a bendy bus that day or if she was replacing another driver.
The vocational licence allows the holder to drive an omnibus or public bus registered with SBS Transit or SMRT. The licence is valid only while the holder is a bus driver with either company.
The eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said: "I was shocked to learn that the woman was not qualified to drive bendy buses.
"Fortunately, there were no accidents or mishaps. But what if something had happened?"
When contacted, an SMRT spokesman said it views the matter seriously and is investigating the matter.
Isolated incident
The spokesman said the incident was an "isolated" one.
The company did not confirm if the driver was qualified to drive a bendy bus, or if she had driven one previously.
Said an SMRT spokesman: "We will not hesitate to take disciplinary measures against our staff if anyone is found guilty of not following the correct procedures."
SMRT said the woman is now driving a single-decked bus.
The spokesman said those with a Class 3 driving licence would have to undergo six weeks' training by SMRT before they could get a Class 4A licence, which enables them to drive a bus.
She said they would then have to pass a test to get the omnibus drivers' vocational licence.
The spokesman said SMRT service leaders need at least two years' experience driving its buses and a good safety record before they could be trained to drive its bendy buses.
She added that service leaders have to undergo a five-day training programme comprising theory classes and practical lessons in order to drive bendy buses.
"During the programme, they learn how to handle and operate a bendy bus safely, as well as understand its operating function," the spokesman added.
[email protected]
This article was first published in The New Paper.
Wed, Aug 18, 2010
The New Paper
'Driver couldn't get this out of parking lot'
[top photo: BENDY BUS - An SMRT bendy bus, like the one the driver was operating.]
By Arul John
THE bus driver could not seem to reverse the bendy bus out of its parking lot. She even had to ask for help.
That was when the truth was revealed - she had not been trained to drive bendy buses at all.
This SMRT bus driver, a woman in her 50s, was preparing to drive bendy bus service 302 from Choa Chu Kang Interchange on July10.
The service operates between Choa Chu Kang Interchange and the Yew Tee area.
Bendy buses are about 18m long - 11/2 times longer than normal buses. They can take in 125 passengers each - 40 more than a single-decked normal bus.
When the driver, who has been an SMRT service leader for more than 10 years, tried to reverse the bus out of the parking lot, she had difficulty doing so.
An eyewitness who saw the incident told The New Paper: "After a few tries, she had to ask for help from the staff at the interchange.
"When the staff member asked her why she found it hard to reverse the bus, she said she was actually not qualified to drive bendy buses."
The eyewitness said the bus was empty at the time, but he had overheard her conversation with the interchange staff.
She then got off the bus, and another driver helped reverse the bus out of the parking lot before she took over the wheel.
It is not known if the woman, who has a Class 4A licence and an Omnibus Driver's Vocational Licence, was scheduled to drive a bendy bus that day or if she was replacing another driver.
The vocational licence allows the holder to drive an omnibus or public bus registered with SBS Transit or SMRT. The licence is valid only while the holder is a bus driver with either company.
The eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said: "I was shocked to learn that the woman was not qualified to drive bendy buses.
"Fortunately, there were no accidents or mishaps. But what if something had happened?"
When contacted, an SMRT spokesman said it views the matter seriously and is investigating the matter.
Isolated incident
The spokesman said the incident was an "isolated" one.
The company did not confirm if the driver was qualified to drive a bendy bus, or if she had driven one previously.
Said an SMRT spokesman: "We will not hesitate to take disciplinary measures against our staff if anyone is found guilty of not following the correct procedures."
SMRT said the woman is now driving a single-decked bus.
The spokesman said those with a Class 3 driving licence would have to undergo six weeks' training by SMRT before they could get a Class 4A licence, which enables them to drive a bus.
She said they would then have to pass a test to get the omnibus drivers' vocational licence.
The spokesman said SMRT service leaders need at least two years' experience driving its buses and a good safety record before they could be trained to drive its bendy buses.
She added that service leaders have to undergo a five-day training programme comprising theory classes and practical lessons in order to drive bendy buses.
"During the programme, they learn how to handle and operate a bendy bus safely, as well as understand its operating function," the spokesman added.
[email protected]
This article was first published in The New Paper.
