Unsafe buses taken off Tshwane roads
2012-09-20 07:38
Johannesburg - The Road Traffic Management Corporation's spokesperson Ashref Ismail said on Wednesday that 68 buses belonging to major passenger transport operators were taken out of service in Tshwane.
Ismail said the buses were taken off the roads in an operation which was conducted in various parts of Tshwane as part of a build-up to the Public Transport Month, which is next month.
Ismail said:"A total of 128 buses belonging to North Star were tested and 44 were seriously defective and impounded on Tuesday and Wednesday."
Fifty-four more buses belonging to Putco were examined and 24 were taken off the roads.
The most common defects were worn tyres, defective brakes, faulty steering mechanisms, excessive smoke and oil leaks.
The corporation's acting chief executive officer Collins Letsoalo said it remained extremely worrying that major passenger transport operators continued to transport vulnerable road users in unroadworthy buses.
"It is unacceptable and we will intensify our programme together with all the traffic departments around the country to ensure that we remove all unsafe vehicles," he said.
"We want a safer festive season for our passengers”.
The same operation was expected to be carried out in other major cities across the country.
Pupil transport, commuter buses, tourist shuttles, mini-bus taxis, luxury coaches, cross-border buses and metered taxis would all be targeted.
Vehicles will be inspected at taxi ranks, bus and train stations, schools, weigh-bridges, toll gates and truck stops.
- SAPA
