The Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Ngalle Bibehe recently withdrew the driver’s license of a driver of “Binam” travel
agency, alongside a five-year ban , following an armed robbery incident
in the bus on October 26th .
He was blamed for picking up passengers along the road in defiance of travel regulations .
But he is not an isolated case; bus drivers have been known over the
years for picking up passengers along the road, with some overloading
their buses.
Picking up passengers along the road is a practice that may not die soon.
Most drivers say poor working conditions forces them to seek other means of income . Mr. Sebastien is one of them .
” Drivers are poorly paid . Picking up passengers along the road is
one of the few opportunities that helps us get extra cash. Most drivers
earn between 36-40 thousand, and its irregular. Sometimes, we go for up
to 4 months without salaries. How do we cope with our families? When a
driver sees the chance to get some money, he does so without a second
thought”.
Although passengers frown at the practice, some drivers say it is equally beneficial to the transport agency and the passengers.
“If the bus has vacant seats , it’s normal for the driver to pick up
passengers along the way. He is helping most passengers who live in
villages and can’t board a vehicle to the town to acquire a ticket at
the agency. Picking up passengers helps reduce running cost, given the
high cost of petrol. However, drivers should not overload their buses” says Isaac Luther , bus driver.
The driver however adds that drivers should not abusively pick up
passengers along the way. He says they should know when to stop even if
there are still vacant seats in the bus.
Edouard djontu , a cashier at a transport agency , believes the
practice will always thrive, but should be moderated by drivers
themselves. He is also of the opinion that the transport sector will witness less
disorder if the state improves security along the way and provides good
roads.
Although drivers agree that there are valid reasons for the practice , they caution themselves against overloading.
Source: www.crtv.cm
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