Garth
Rattray
When the Jamaica Urban Transport Company (JUTC) was first formed, we all saw the trainee drivers on television going through their rigorous paces. This translated into a marvellous exhibition of professionalism, proficiency, courtesy and care on the roads. Nobody feared those big white busses as they deftly manoeuvred about our congested city.
However, that didn't last because, within a comparatively short time, quite a few JUTC drivers began boring into the traffic, changing lanes without warning, stopping anywhere, swinging around corners, speeding dangerously, cutting off other motorists, tailgating, stopping way out into the road, cussing and sounding their horns incessantly. They behaved just like boorish route taxi drivers and undisciplined, competitive Coaster bus operators. Because of this, JUTC buses have been involved in an increasing number of crashes. This has not augured well for the company's finances.
Two incidents close to home gave me reason to ruminate on the dangerous practices of some drivers. Recently, a friend was chauffeuring my wife when an articulated JUTC bus suddenly overtook the line of bumper-to-bumper traffic and cut in dangerously in front of them (with the bulk of the vehicle partially obstructing the oncoming traffic). Our family friend had to swerve toward the curb to avoid being ripped apart by the massive bus. And, just a few nights ago, a JUTC bus driver (who was behind me) seemed to have had a problem with sharing the road because he held down his horn and accelerated towards me as if trying to run me over.
ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED
Now, many people exercise caution around JUTC buses. Some people even experience trepidation and others feel angry and frustrated at being bullied by these massive and sometimes aggressive denizens of the roadways.
This sort of behaviour is cer-tainly not universal among JUTC drivers, but curiosity led me to investigate what's up with some of them. On the one hand, one source claims that some drivers are discontented with their meagre basic take-home pay after income tax, statutory deductions, health insurance, life insurance and union dues. I was told that the low pay and gruelling overtime (in order to make ends meet) made some drivers disgruntled, irritable and, therefore, hostile and uncaring on the roads. Some even believed that accumulating a record of minor accidents would gain them a redundancy.
ONGOING PROBLEM
But, JUTC General Manager, Patrick McIntosh said that bad drivers are fired and not made redundant. He also explained management's assessment of the ongoing problem with bad driving. He said that when the company started out, there was careful selection of the drivers, however, there followed a rapid expansion which (naturally) resulted in less than satisfactory screening and training. To combat this situation, the JUTC instituted the retraining and retesting of drivers. Drivers are sent on refresher summer courses at the Advanced Driver Training Centre (ADTC). They are also trained in customer service, conflict resolution and they even undergo random drug testing.
There's little doubt that the JUTC management and the Transport Ministry are doing what they can to make their busses safer, but we also have a role to play. We must safeguard ourselves by reporting those JUTC drivers that perform badly on the roads. Take note of the fleet number (usually displayed on all four sides of the busses - the last four digits are the most important). Also note the approximate time, day and place and report them to the JUTC.
We must not allow a few buffoons in control of Volvo buses weighing from 19 metric tonnes to 25 metric tonnes and up (when empty) to continue endangering us and our families with their bad driving habits.
Dr Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.
