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LAST week, I boarded service 198 from the bus stop opposite
Jurong East Library at about 6pm. The number was SBS 7373 D.
Shortly after I boarded, there was a continuous sharp beeping
sound. The passengers obviously became worried, especially as the
driver looked surprised and obviously did not know what was
wrong.
The sound continued non-stop and the bus started to move slowly.
As it was peak hour, the road was congested. The driver went on
driving and was trying to figure out how to stop the sound.
After about 15 minutes, the bus went even slower and I heard the
driver mumble in Mandarin: 'The bus seems faulty.' I was shocked
that he did not seem to be sure if it was faulty. By this time, the
passengers on the upper deck had come down to see what was
happening. The driver stopped along the main road, near the bus
stop opposite Block 114.
The driver did not explain what had happened nor did he help the
passengers to alight from the bus. He just continued to sit inside
the bus. Another bus approached behind, and its driver sounded his
horn loudly.
A few questions struck me as a passenger.
- Are bus drivers fully trained how to handle faulty buses and
at least assess what may have gone wrong?
- What if the beeping sound warned of a hazard and this driver's
ignorance put the lives of passengers at risk?
- How could this driver act as if nothing had happened and not
even bother to advise passengers to alight?
Wee Meei Yen (Miss)
