Regular training programmes for drivers and conductors cited as reason

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has claimed that through frequent driver/conductor training programmes, it has brought down the number of accidents this financial year compared to the previous three years.

As per the records made available by the MTC, the number of fatal accidents involving MTC buses was 33 in 2018-19 (till August 31), against 92 in 2017-18. The number of fatal accidents in 2016-17 was 109, against 114 fatalities in 2015-16.

The dedicated work by the officials of the Safety and Training wing of the MTC has paid results, sources claimed, with buses operated from 22 depots, registering nil fatal accidents out of the 34 depots this financial year. For the financial year 2017-18, eight bus depots registered nil fatal accidents.

A senior official of the MTC said the total number of accidents over the past three years had come down drastically.

While in 2017-18, the number of accidents involving MTC buses was 1,146, the total accidents was 1,277 in 2016-17, against 1,661 recorded in 2015-16. The accident data features fatal, grievous injury and small injury, he added.

The safety and training wing of the MTC organises special training programmes for drivers and conductors involved in any accident, particularly if it involved a fatality.

The drivers and conductors are given awareness programme on the traffic rules and regulations to be followed and also given yoga training.

Health camps

The MTC organises special health and eye screening camps every year as part of its accident prevention programme. The safety and training wing of the MTC, being the first to be at the spot of any accidents involving MTC buses, would carry out their own internal investigation.

A senior official of the MTC said that while in a majority of the accidents, MTC drivers are found to be at fault, there are also cases in which the pedestrians or motorists have been proven to be the cause of the accidents. The MTC, to encourage the bus crew, would be giving away awards to their drivers and conductors on Tuesday.