Unlicensed Bus ALS, Owner Called Ministry Of Transportation

The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) has confirmed that it will immediately summon the owner of the Inter-Sumatra Bus (ALS), following an accident on Jalan Lintas Padang Panjang, Padang, West Sumatra, Tuesday (6/5), killing 12 passengers.

Acting (Plt) Director General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation Ahmad Yani said, after checking the ALS bus that had an accident did not have an operating permit.

Meanwhile, the periodic test status period for the bus is valid until May 14, 2025.

"This is certainly a very concern. We will summon the owner of the autobus company and will act decisively so that this incident does not happen again," said Ahmad Yani as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 7.

His party continues to coordinate with the police, the relevant Transportation Service and the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) to explore the cause of the accident.

Yani also reminded the obligation of every bus that operates to have a permit and roadworthy. This is stated in the Regulation of the Minister of Transportation Number PM 55 of 2012 concerning Vehicles and PM Number 15 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of People's Transportation with General Motorized Vehicles in the Trayek.

Every vehicle operating on a road that is used as public transportation is required to have a permit to carry out people's transportation and then meet the minimum service standards.

In addition, each vehicle is also required to check its vehicle regularly. The certainty of vehicle feasibility is the responsibility of motor vehicle testing including the autobus (PO) company.

"Bus boats are required to carry out periodic vehicle maintenance and vehicle testers perform a function to ensure that vehicles meet the minimum standardization for each bus to operate," said Yani.

In addition, he emphasized that every public transport company is also required to implement the Public Transportation Company Safety Management System (SMK PAU) as stated in the Regulation of the Minister of Transportation (Permenhub) Number 85 of 2018.

SMK PAU is the safety governance of the company's management which is carried out comprehensively and coordinated to realize safety and manage the risk of accidents.

As stated in Law Number 22 of 2009 concerning Road Traffic and Transportation (UU LLAJ), sanctions for traffic violations can be in the form of revocation of transportation licenses.

"And if an accident occurs with a vehicle condition that is not good, then the company is obliged to provide compensation to accident victims through accident insurance," he said again.

Therefore, he hopes that all autobus companies can carry out these obligations as well as possible in order to prioritize the safety and security aspects of transportation in Indonesia.