Minister Launches Ramp Check on Public Transportation to Lower Accident Rates

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 28 Desember 2018
Category: News
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Minister of Transportation conduct a ramp check on buses at Balekambang Tourism Park, Thursday (27/12). (Photo: Ministry of Transportation)

Minister of Transportation conduct a ramp check on buses at Balekambang Tourism Park, Thursday (27/12). (Photo: Ministry of Transportation)

In a bid to prevent bus accidents, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi on Thursday (27/12) in Balekambang Tourism Park, Tawangmangu in Central Java province conducted a ramp check on tourism buses to ensure all aspects of safety drive.

At least three tourism buses were checked on that occasion, namely Multi-Mulia Bus with the Jakarta-Tawangmangu route carrying 33 passengers, Indo Trans Bus with Solo-Tawangmangu route, and Damai bus with the Klaten-Tawangmangu route carrying 55 passengers.

The ramp checks were carried out by the Karanganyar Transportation Agency of Directorate General of Land Transportation. The bus drivers also took a urine test conducted by the Karanganyar Police Health Doctor.

“We appreciate the effort of Karanganyar Transportation Agency for conducting bus ramp checks to ensure safety of the buses. I hope that during the year-end holiday season, the ramp check and urine tests for the drivers will be carried out intensively. I have also ordered Head of Traffic Coordinator and all Chiefs of Police to conduct massive checks in all places, especially tourist destinations,” Budi said.

Besides in Tawangmangu, Budi also conducted ramp checks at Borobudur Temple Tourism Park and for buses that did not pass the check have been sent out. “We also conducted ramp checks in Borobudur Temple Tourism Park on 39 buses, in which 14 of them did not pass the test mostly due to license issues, ”the Minister said.

Furthermore, Budi explained that bus operators that did not pass the ramp check were given various punishments, ranging from warnings to revocation of licenses.

“Last year, there were many bus accidents due to unfeasible vehicles and drivers who were not in good condition. Therefore we carried out intensive ramp checks to make sure that the brakes, lights and other parts functioned properly. We also asked the managers of the tourism buses to pay attention to the validity of vehicle feasibility test license. I hope both drivers and passengers are aware of the importance of safety so that the number of accidents can be reduced,” the Minister said.

For the record, until the news was released, buses that have carried out ramp check have reached 35,812 units, among them 16,492 Inter-City Inter-Province (AKAP) buses, 18,545 City buses and 675 tourism buses. A total of 28,183 buses were roadworthy, while 7,629 vehicles that did not roadworthy were already repaired.

The ramp check also been carried out in various tourist locations, such as Bandung Ciater Hot Springs, Borobudur Magelang Tourism Park, Balekambang Tawangmangu Tourism Park and Karangkates Bus Terminal in Malang Regency.

In the meantime, Budi also conducted a sudden ramp check on one of the Lion Air planes at Husein Sastranegara Airport (Bandung, West Java province), with the result showing that all aspects of the plane are in good condition.

Afterwards, the Minister also visited Bandung Railway Station to inspect the condition of the station during its peak season. (Communication Bureau of Ministry of Transportation / EN)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas

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