Take public transport this Raya says RTD Chief. TRANSIT: Public transport is now comfortable, safer option

TRANSIT took note of a number of articles about the upcoming Balik Kampung period that we thought worthy of note.

Firstly, the director-general of the Road Transport Department has commented that the public should be confident to take buses to their destinations this raya, as buses are much safer than motorcycles.

As you know, each Hari Raya balik kampung period is accompanied by an Ops Sikap and daily announcements about deaths & collisions on Malaysian roads. And every Ops Sikap records that the greatest number of deaths & injuries occur among motorcyclists traveling on Federal Roads.

RTD Chief: Take the bus this raya; it’s safer (NST)
2011/08/15
By Predeep Nambiar

KUALA LUMPUR: Those planning the annual balik kampung trip this coming festive season have been urged to use public transport, especially express buses.
Road Transport Department (RTD) director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan said the use of express buses instead of passenger cars will ease the anticipated traffic congestion during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri period.

“The government expects the number of people using public transport to show an increase from 17 per cent last year to 21 per cent this year.

“A recent research by MIROS (Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Reserch) shows that the accident risk of public transport vehicles is seven to nine times lower than passenger cars.

“It is also 48 times safer than a motorcycle.”

He was speaking after handing out appreciation certificates to 37 RTD officers who turned whistleblowers on those who offered them bribes.

Solah said the use of public transport, especially express buses, can ease the high traffic volume during the festive period.

In February, the North-South Expressway registered a record high of 1.4 million vehicles per day, compared with 1.1 million vehicles on normal days during the Chinese New Year period.

Solah also said that in a bid to cut down on accidents during the balik kampung rush, the RTD had launched, beginning yesterday, an integrated enforcement operation on express buses.

The joint enforcement exercise involves the police, the National Anti-Drug Agency (Nada), Road Safety Department, MIROS and the Land Public Transport Commission.

The RTD had stationed 3,500 officers who will work round the clock at strategic points.

“To get more people on the buses, we are intensifying checks on express buses to make sure they are safe.”

Solah said RTD’s recent checks at bus depots nationwide revealed that 597 buses had passed the tests.

Only one bus in Penang failed the test.

To date, 316 buses had failed the scheduled roadworthiness test three times at Puspakom, compared with 645 buses last year, Solah said.

“Buses that fail the computerised tests at Puspakom three times in a row will have their road taxes suspended for a month and will not be allowed to operate.”

Solah said the RTD had also identified 64 bus depots operated by mainstream operators and had conducted thorough checks on all the buses there.

Solah said RTD officers would also be stationed at all major bus terminals around the country to carry out inspection on primary components such as brakes, tyres, and log books, to ensure that the vehicles are roadworthy.

“Nobody will be spared in this enforcement exercise.”

Nada and the police narcotics department will also carry out urine tests on drivers in tandem with the RTD officers.

“RTD will also put plainclothes officers on board express buses to observe and take action against errant drivers after arriving at their destinations.”

TRANSIT Says:

If the statistics don’t convince you, then be confident in knowing that the enforcement agencies are going to be out there enforcing the laws & regulations to protect the safety of the public when it comes to public transport.

It also helps that Puduraya has been reopened & the ITT at Bandar Tasik Selatan is also available – so your public transport trip will be more comfortable.

Three depts conducting integrated road safety ops (The Star)
18 August 2011

KUALA LUMPUR: The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) together with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the police are conducting an integrated road safety operation in conjunction with Hari Raya.

SPAD chief executive officer Mohamed Nur Kamal said the operation was aimed at preventing accidents and ensuring safety at bus terminals.

He said the operation, which began on Sunday, would end on Sept 14.

“This is the first year SPAD is collaborating with enforcement agencies during a festive season after being fully operational on Jan 31,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Mohamed Nur said the operation would be divided into three focus areas of monitoring, with the enforcement agencies concentrating on inspection of permits of public transportation vehicles as well as bus ticket touts.

JPJ’s focus is to inspect the technical aspects of vehicles around depots and bus terminals throughout the peninsula while the police would conduct checks on expressways, federal and state roads.

“Since the start of the operation, to yesterday, SPAD has seized 166 permits of taxis, express buses, stage buses and lorries,” he said. — Bernama

TRANSIT Says:

But if the government operations & the statistics are not enough, and you just cannot stand the idea of traffic jams (whether you are driving or not) or feel uncomfortable with buses, then have no fear, KTM rail services are available for you.

KTM increases services for Raya (The Star)

18 August 2011

KUALA LUMPUR: KTM Bhd is offering an additional 4,404 tickets for its train services to East Coast destinations with immediate effect.

KTM president Dr Aminuddin Adnan said KTM Intercity is offering 129,012 tickets for the North, South and Central regions for sale from Aug 20 to Sept 10.

As of Monday, 69,017 tickets have been sold, he said.

“We will try to get more coaches and will update the public,” he said after distributing bubur lambuk (spiced rice porridge) to passengers at KL Sentral earlier this week. — Bernama

TRANSIT Says:

Perhaps you are worried about the proposed work-to-rule campaign announced by the Railwaymen’s Union of Malaya, which threatened to disrupt train travel during the balik kampung period?

Well apparently it has been called off (for now).

Pekerja KTMB tangguh ‘bekerja ikut peraturan’ (Utusan Malaysia)
18 Ogos 2011

KUALA LUMPUR 17 Ogos – Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KPPKTMB) memutuskan untuk menangguhkan tindakan ‘bekerja mengikut peraturan’ bagi mengelak operasi perkhidmatan itu terganggu pada sambutan Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Presidennya, Abdul Razak Md. Hassan berkata, perkara itu diputuskan setelah menilai beberapa perkara termasuk jaminan Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha untuk menyelesaikan kemelut antara KPPKTMB dan Presiden Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), Dr. Aminuddin Adnan dalam masa terdekat ini.

“Sehubungan itu, saya memberi jaminan perkhidmatan KTMB sepanjang perayaan Aidilfitri tidak akan terganggu,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan di sini hari ini.

Sebelum ini, KPPKTMB mengeluarkan amaran untuk ‘bekerja mengikut peraturan’ yang boleh menjejaskan perjalanan kira-kira 50,000 penumpang yang mahu pulang berhari raya sekiranya permintaan kesatuan supaya perkhidmatan Aminuddin ditamatkan tidak dilayan.

TRANSIT Says:

Wow, what a post. Well, we do hope that you enjoy the upcoming Balik Kampung period and celebrations of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Muhibbah open houses.

But please, always remember that safety comes first dear reader. You are a living, breathing person with a family, friends and loved ones. Do not become a statistic.