Human factors, not mechanical problems, account for most tour bus accidents in Taiwan (72 percent), so practices related to the former especially need to be strengthened to prevent future tragedies, Premier Sean Chen said today.
Chen made these remarks after hearing a report on the subject by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' (MOTC) Directorate General of Highways (DGH). The agency said it has been very attentive to tour bus safety management, putting several helpful measures in place since mid-2012.
One of these is a quota on drivers' working hours. To make sure this restriction is being followed, drivers must write their working and resting hours and the details of their work schedule inside logbooks distributed by the DGH.
Moreover, to improve drivers' physical health and driving skills as well as their work conditions, efforts have been made to better bus companies' operational environments, study vehicle classifications, conduct on-the-job training of drivers and explore new sources of bus drivers.
The MOTC offers oral cancer screening to drivers at training centers to encourage them to return and sharpen their abilities. This service has been well-received.
Five facets of transportation—roads, vehicles, humans, companies and law enforcement—should be targeted in shaping responsive measures to improve tour bus safety, the premier added.
Premier Chen urged aggressive implementation of existing safety measures and also called attention to the following six points:
1. Other countries' vehicle insurance regulations with respect to dispute resolution and accident prevention must be studied with a view to improving Taiwan's insurance system in this respect.
2. Safety measures regarding unnumbered roads not under regulatory oversight must be improved. Should these roads pose major risks or greatly challenge a driver's driving skills, then stringent restrictions should be enforced to prevent large tour bus or similar vehicles from accessing them.
3. Age should not be the only factor in determining a vehicle's safety. Currently, age restrictions lock some high-performance, globally reputed foreign brands' vehicles out of the local market. The MOTC, which identified this problem, should implement an improved car-classification system.
4. Tour bus parking zones should be designated in important sightseeing areas so that tour bus drivers need not drive around the area while waiting for their passengers. This practice not only disturbs nearby residents but also cuts into drivers' rest time.
5. According to the report, license leasing is a major source of safety hazards. In Taiwan, bus owners who do not have tour licenses often lease such licenses from other companies to obtain work opportunities; this may incentivize them to work especially long hours to profit from their investment. Management of the companies involved must be strengthened to ensure discipline and the observance of safety regulations.
6. Tour companies should be convinced that compliance with safety regulations ultimately saves them losses in the long run by preventing future accidents. In addition, a comprehensive review of the working environment of professional drivers, especially their working hours, should be conducted.