BEST to install speed governors in buses from November

“Drivers tend to speed on highways and a bus is always at the risk of causing an accident when the driver is speeding. Our employees are working on introducing speed governors in buses. We will have a trial period first as manufacturing a new bus with speed governors is not difficult,but modifying an existing system can affect other parts,” Gupta said.

Trials are expected to start three months from now and initially,BEST will run at least one bus equipped with a speed governor on every route.

“Effectively,500 buses will be equipped with speed governors during trial. We will take at least three months to complete the trials,” Gupta said. The BEST has a fleet of about 4,600 buses.

Gupta said there is a general decline in traffic discipline among vehicle owners and pedestrians,which has had an impact on the traffic discipline of BEST buses,too.

Last month,a BEST bus toppled while negotiating a turn in Bandra,killing a biker and injuring at least 29 passengers. A BEST spokesperson had said that prima facie,the accident took place because the driver was speeding.

BEST also plans to make changes in the duty patterns of bus drivers. A BEST spokesperson said at present,all drivers are given a choice on the route they want to drive on the basis of seniority,so the shorter and easier routes are chosen by senior drivers,while the relatively new ones are left with longer and more stressful duties.

Gupta said BEST is thinking of allotting one compulsory duty to every driver and letting him choose the other two,instead of leaving all three to the drivers’ choice.

The move will be aimed at reducing stress among drivers and ensuring the more difficult routes are not left only to the relatively inexperienced and new drivers.