Bus Operators Regularly
Test Their Drivers For
Alcohol Abuse
Bus operators are using
breathalyzers, testing
their drivers daily, to
ensure that they are not
driving drunk, according
to the Spanish daily La
Nación, who interviewed
five bus companies who
admitted to providing
the test.
The five companies told
the daily that it is
regular practice to
ensure that their
drivers are sober behind
the wheel.
The measure is being
applied following a
request by the
Ministerio de Obras
Públicas y Transportes (MOPT)
asking the 728 bus
operators in the country
offering services to the
public to devise a plan
to control drunk
drivers.
Viviana Martín,
viceministra de
Transportes, assures
that the MOPT is in
approval of the bus
operators who test their
drivers, adding that all
public bus transport
companies submitted
their plan of action.
However, not all the bus
companies test their
drivers daily, some have
only sporadic testing,
while others perform
breathalyzer tests on
their drivers by way of
random spot checks.
In some cases, like that
of Lared Ltda, that
offers service between
San José and Poás, the
company said it calls
the Policía de Tránsito
(traffic police) when it
detects one of its
drivers is under the
influence.
According to the
Dirección General de la
Policía del Tránsito,
they have not issued any
traffic tickets to bus
drivers drunk behind the
wheel since the MOPT
made the request of bus
operators.
Maritza Hernández,
president of the Cámara
Nacional de
Transportistas, said the
bus companies plans are
working because they
took the situation
seriously.
Hernández added that the
Cámara is implementing a
bus driver training
course that will be
offered by the Instituto
Nacional de Aprendizaje
(INA) - national trade
school, a course that
will be from three to 12
months and will attempt
to formulate solid
driving principles and
ethics. |
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