Just as the air hostess gives safety instructions to passengers before the flight takes off, conductors of tourist buses will have to give similar instructions to the passengers. The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) has made it mandatory for all bus operators to give safety instructions that include how to operate emergency doors and break window panes with the help of hammers in case of fire.
The Pune RTO has also made it mandatory for all tour operators to maintain a list of passengers with names, addresses and contact numbers of relatives in case of emergency. The decision has been taken on the backdrop of recent accidents of tourist buses catching fire.
Deputy regional transport officer Anil Valiv said, “In order to enhance safety of the passengers, we have issued a circular to all private bus owners in the city. Most of the time, passengers are unaware about what to do during an emergency. Therefore it is important that bus owners should ensure that safety instructions are given by the attendant.”
Valiv added, “During road safety month in January, we will randomly check buses and carry out the special drive. Strict action will be taken against bus owners who are not following the passenger safety norms.”
There are more than 1,200 private buses in the city out of which more than 650 ply out of Pune every day. The Pune Bus Owners Association (POBA) claims that they are happy about the circular given by the Pune RTO.
Vice-president of POBA, Rajan Junwane said, “The bus owners should comply by the rule as it is for passengers’ safety. Moreover, the Pune RTO have a 24x7 helpline number where passengers can call during emergency.”
Safety norms for buses
- A list consisting details of passengers including names, complete addresses, mobile numbers, telephone numbers and in case of emergency additional telephone number of relatives must be kept in the office.
- At the start of every journey, the bus conductor must tell the passengers about the emergency exit gate and if there is no emergency gate, the bus owner should keep minimum of six hammers to break the window glass. The safety information brochure must be kept in seat pocket.
- A sticker with helpline numbers of highway police, hospitals on the way, ambulance numbers and numbers of travel agency owner must be displayed at minimum two points on the bus.
- Video coach buses will have to show safety instructions and guidelines in case of emergency through audio-video medium.
- The speed limit on Pune-Mumbai expressway is 80 kmph. If the driver fails to observe the limit, the passengers should stop him and if he does not do so, the passengers should call up the helpline number.
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