The private bus that was involved in an accident in which a woman two-wheeler rider was killed at Menaka Junction in Kochi on Friday (March 14, 2025).
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A young woman who was riding pillion on her husband’s two-wheeler was crushed to death at Menaka here on Friday (March 14, 2025) noon, allegedly due to rash driving by two private buses owned by the same person.
Mundamveli resident Mary Sanitha, 36, died shortly after the accident, while her husband Lawrence escaped with injuries. The couple have two school-going children.
Police sources said the accident occurred as the drivers of the two buses bearing the name ‘Sajimon’ were engaged in competitive driving, with one trying to overtake the other that was leaving the bus stop at Menaka. The couple on the two-wheeler who were caught in between the two buses were knocked down by one of the buses, following which its rear wheels ran over the woman. The bus driver reportedly fled the spot soon after the accident.
The continuing spate of reckless driving and accidents involving private buses has, in the meantime, given rise to the demand that the police and the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) take stern action against the crew of such buses.
“It is shocking that the State government has not stepped in to rein in reckless driving by a bulk of around 500 city permit buses in Kochi despite the trail of accidents they are causing and intimidatory driving,” said B.J. Antony, who retired as Senior Deputy Transport Commissioner and is now the managing director of the city-based Kleen Smart Bus Limited (KSBL). “Over the years, bus operators have been finding it difficult to get quality drivers, although the amended provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act insist on improving the quality of drivers to ensure safer roads. Drivers must realise that competitive driving, especially within city limits, is futile. On their part, both the MVD and the police must take proactive and deterrent measures to end the menace posed by recklessly driven buses,” he added.
On Section 136-A of the Motor Vehicles Act, Bijulal Ram, a former motor vehicle inspector, said the Act had tasked the State government to ensure electronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety as prescribed by the Central government. “On its part, the Centre ought to make rules for electronic monitoring and enforcement of road safety measures, which include CCTVs, speed guns, and body wearable cameras. Apart from frequent refresher training for drivers, there is a need for stepped-up surveillance and monitoring of drivers of public transport vehicles,” he added.
Even as members of the public have turned their ire on police and MVD officials, citing inadequate law enforcement, enforcement personnel said they were trying their best within the limited legal means. “Each day, the City Traffic Police (West) charges between 50 to 70 petty cases against private bus drivers for reckless driving, obstructive parking, and drunk driving. This is apart from inspections to verify aspects like speed governors and illegal horns. Unfortunately, bus drivers resort to rash driving even during off-peak hours and on holidays,” said P.K. Sabu, Assistant Commissioner, City Traffic Police (West).
An MVD official said department personnel were walking a tightrope due to immense pressure from a few bus operator organisations whenever enforcement was stepped up. He added that it was high time qualifications were prescribed for both bus operators and drivers, as the quality of service and operations in the sector had deteriorated sharply.
K.B. Suneer, an office-bearer of Private Bus Operators’ Association, said the association was totally against rash driving and prevailed upon its members to operate only as per traffic rules. “Most owners of rashly driven buses are not members of any bus operators’ association. Making matters worse, a bulk of them hand over their buses on lease to others, which further encourages rash driving,” he added.
Published – March 15, 2025 02:05 am IST