The Deadly Accident Of A Tourism Bus In Ciamis Is Considered A Sign Of Weak Public Transport Supervision

Screenshot - A tourism bus crashed into a vehicle and a resident's house in the Plenary area, Payungsari Village, Panumbangan District, Ciamis Regency, West Java, Saturday (21/5/2022). (ANTARA/HO-Residents)

JAKARTA - Transportation observer Azas Tigor Nainggolan highlighted the fatal bus accident that killed 4 pilgrimage passengers from Banten in Ciamis, West Java.

The bus driver could not control the bus when it was going downhill and hit a building on the side of the road. The occurrence of this bus accident raises questions and concerns over the poor service of public transport.

This accident, said Azas, shows the lack of supervision over the operation of public transport services. Moreover, the bus that crashed today was a tourist bus.

"It can be said that this series of bus accidents could be a sign of weak supervision over the operation of tourism buses or public transport buses," said Azas Tigor, Sunday, May 22.

Based on the situation where public transport accidents are still frequent, he continued, the Police and the Ministry of Transportation must further increase supervision and enforcement of existing rules in terms of the Traffic and Road Transport Law.

The government and the police need to conduct an evaluation to improve supervision and prevent bus accidents from happening again.

"We support that an in-depth examination should be carried out on the driver and bus company who experienced this accident. If it is suspected that the brakes failed or the driver fell asleep, then the driver and the bus company (operator) must also be held accountable," he said.

He asked about the enforcement of the rules not only for the drivers but also for the businessmen of the tourism bus company.

"Strict action must be taken against the entrepreneur because the company operates buses that are not road-worthy and drivers who are not fit to work. It is also necessary to check whether the bus company has a permit," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding strict sanctions, related parties can impose legal sanctions on drivers and entrepreneurs and revoke their company permits.

"Strong action must be taken immediately in order to build a deterrent effect and change behavior for other operators, in order to provide safe, secure, and comfortable public transportation services," he explained.

Azas Tigor urged the government, especially the Police, to act decisively in accordance with the Traffic and Road Transport Law.

He also appealed to the public using public transportation services to be more thorough and check the condition of the buses and bus companies that were rented. This is to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of the trip.

"People who use and rent buses for public transportation or tourism place the requirements for the feasibility of the bus and the company as the main thing, not the cheapness of the bus rental. This critical attitude of the community as users of public transportation must be done so that accidents do not occur and become victims," he said.

Previously, a fatal accident occurred on a pilgrimage group bus from Tangerang Regency in Ciamis, West Java, Saturday, May 21, yesterday.

The group of the ta'lim assembly departed from Sukamulya District, Tangerang Regency with the aim of Cirebon, Panjalu-Ciamis and Pamijahan-Tasikmalaya.

Allegedly due to a failed brake, the bus crashed into two houses and a workshop on the side of the road. Four people died on the spot as a result of this fatal accident.

The four victims who died were at the Ciamis Hospital named Hj Sri Mulyani (45), a resident of Sukamulya, Tangerang, Feri and Enok, a resident of Payungsari, and Omah, a resident of Pagerageng.