LTA warns against overloading of buses and mini buses

The Land Transport Authority is raising concerns after a photograph was circulated on social media showing a bus overloaded with students while Nasese Buses Limited says students do not listen to the driver.

LTA says it is illegal to overload buses or mini-buses.

CEO Samuel Simpson says overloading any public transport vehicles puts Fijians in danger, and overloading school buses puts young Fijians at risk, is irresponsible and unacceptable.

Simpson adds the actions in the photograph represent the worst kind of neglect by the bus driver and the bus operator.

He says bus operators need to take all the necessary steps to ensure the safety of everyone in their buses.

Simpson further says those drivers found overloading buses will face the full brunt of the law.

He adds overloaded buses react differently when the maximum weight, which they are designed to carry, is exceeded - it makes them less stable, difficult to steer and take longer to stop and it can also cause the tyre to overheat and wear rapidly, which increases the chance of premature, dangerous and expensive failure or blow-outs.

Simpson says LTA will be carrying out additional checks to ensure that an overloading situation does not occur where officers are present.

He says unless everyone involved takes responsibility, we will continue to have cases like this and the tragic death of the bus driver in Nausori adding both of these incidents could have been avoided if all involved took their responsibilities seriously.

Simpson adds that there needs to be more caution and courtesy by all involved and it is a two-way street - bus drivers should treat their passengers with respect, and in return, passengers need to show them that same respect.

When contacted by Fijivillage, Nasese Buses Manager Najneel Kumar says this is a everyday occurrence.

Kumar says when the students board the bus they are seated properly but when the bus moves the students also move around the bus.

He adds when Police officers are there students listen but when they are gone students do not listen again.