Lowly paid bus driver cause accident??!!

Quoted from Zainal Rampak interview as Transport Worker Union (TWU) secreatary general - Lowly Paid and Exhaustive Driver cause accident.

It's non other than this right moment to issue a statement that will uphold your name in the Union. After the tragedy that killed 10 passangers instantly due to driver's carelessness (based on news report that he admitted to be sleepy) where the whole nation is pointing finger to bus driver and came out with some outrageous and almost ridiculous suggestions i.e. bus to only operates in daytime, at least some one is defending the driver (no..it's not Karpal Singh this time).

However, the statement made by the TWU secreatary general can still be argued. Receiving low pay is not an acceptable excuse to involve in drugs to keep awake when driving the bus. People will mostly agree that drugs are more expensive and 'control' item compared to cigarette. I suppose that the all drivers who take drugs are also smokers...(it'll be a surprise if they only take drugs but didn't smoke). The question is why spend your small salary on drugs and cigarettes if the salary you received is really that small??!!

Another point that we should take note is that bus drivers will normally receive special treatment when they stop at the selective restaurant in course of the journey. They will be entertained by the restaurant's patron by giving them free foods, drinks and cigarettes. Sometimes, bus passangers have to wait for the driver to show up...maybe he was really taking his time to rest in the expensive treatment they received at the not-cheap-at-all restaurant for the bus passengers.

Maybe the driver in this case is sleepy because he has his stomach full after stop in the journey...or is it because his failure to get involve in drugs, thus the accident occured?

What has been missing are talks in upgrading the life and duty of the bus driver. I'm not sure who determine the RM500 basic salary for them. I supposed its not derived from the market. But if it does, then there are certain players who are toying with other people income in this case.

Another point that sounds ridiculous but practical suggestion is to start a journey with a little 'doa' by the bus driver on duty...at least he will knows that he has been 'entrusted' to carry people lives on his steering and pedals.

Or is it time for LPKP to have direct monitoring or at least telecommunications with buses operating especially at night, just as for pilot who are communicating with the control tower. LPKP can check now and then just to ensure that the bus driver is still awake.

Now it's back to the question...does lowly paid bus driver cause accident?? Hence, it's better to have unpaid bus driver cause they won't drive the bus...at least we can 'save' some lives from the road...