Shocking! Just shocking! Or is it already stale news? Heard over the radio last night about an express bus crashing through the expressway's center guard rail and into a few oncoming cars. I was shocked at first but isn't this has been happening in Malaysia for so long?
I got more information when I read the news this morning (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/11/nation/7201269&sec=nation). 12 people were killed as of press time. 4 vehicles were collateral damage. What is the express bus doing in the fast lane? Why was it speeding? Why can't those bus companies hire proper bus drivers? Profits more important than human lives?
I have been taking these express coffins at least once a month when I worked in Singapore, making the commute to and fro KL. My life was in the hands of the bus driver. At least once a month, I was at death's door. Speeding express buses are the norm, be it during the day time or the night time. Some could even go as fast as 130km/h when the speed limit for them is 90km/h on the expressways.
The Government has been all talk on putting in more enforcements on these express bus' companies. Black boxes, undercover officers as passengers, speed limiters, etc. What happened to all these "enforcements" for this ill-fated express bus? Is there a black box? Is an undercover officer one of the casualties? Why didn't the speed limiter activated?
How many should be lost until the day when the express buses are as safe as those found in US or Europe? Thousands of civilians? Or just one politician or cabinet member? News coverage has been quite low-profiled compared to the case of a dead millionaire or the launching of a politician's Facebook page.
Ever since I moved back to Malaysia to work, I have not taken any express bus if I could drive to the destination. The last express bus I took was a trip from KL to Kuala Terengganu en route to Pulau Redang. Even though the bus was speeding once in awhile, I was more agitated by the coldness of the air conditioning than the speed. I was not worried too much on the speed as the journey was mostly on the trunk road and the express bus couldn't possibly speed too much.
With the emergence of budget airlines, I think it is much safer to fly than to take the express bus. However, I still hope that express buses in Malaysia could be safer, much safer, if not at least to be of the same standard as those found in developed countries. Bus ticket prices keep rising, yet the safety standard remains or went backwards. Even though the express buses used now are quite new and hi-tech, but with a stupid driver at the wheel, the lives of the passengers are definitely not guaranteed. The moment a passenger steps up into the bus, they are at death's door.
I got more information when I read the news this morning (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/10/11/nation/7201269&sec=nation). 12 people were killed as of press time. 4 vehicles were collateral damage. What is the express bus doing in the fast lane? Why was it speeding? Why can't those bus companies hire proper bus drivers? Profits more important than human lives?
I have been taking these express coffins at least once a month when I worked in Singapore, making the commute to and fro KL. My life was in the hands of the bus driver. At least once a month, I was at death's door. Speeding express buses are the norm, be it during the day time or the night time. Some could even go as fast as 130km/h when the speed limit for them is 90km/h on the expressways.
The Government has been all talk on putting in more enforcements on these express bus' companies. Black boxes, undercover officers as passengers, speed limiters, etc. What happened to all these "enforcements" for this ill-fated express bus? Is there a black box? Is an undercover officer one of the casualties? Why didn't the speed limiter activated?
How many should be lost until the day when the express buses are as safe as those found in US or Europe? Thousands of civilians? Or just one politician or cabinet member? News coverage has been quite low-profiled compared to the case of a dead millionaire or the launching of a politician's Facebook page.
Ever since I moved back to Malaysia to work, I have not taken any express bus if I could drive to the destination. The last express bus I took was a trip from KL to Kuala Terengganu en route to Pulau Redang. Even though the bus was speeding once in awhile, I was more agitated by the coldness of the air conditioning than the speed. I was not worried too much on the speed as the journey was mostly on the trunk road and the express bus couldn't possibly speed too much.
With the emergence of budget airlines, I think it is much safer to fly than to take the express bus. However, I still hope that express buses in Malaysia could be safer, much safer, if not at least to be of the same standard as those found in developed countries. Bus ticket prices keep rising, yet the safety standard remains or went backwards. Even though the express buses used now are quite new and hi-tech, but with a stupid driver at the wheel, the lives of the passengers are definitely not guaranteed. The moment a passenger steps up into the bus, they are at death's door.
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