12,000 BMTC bus drivers to be trained in defensive driving after spate of accidents

BENGALURU: Due to frequent accidents involving KSRTC and BMTC buses, which on several occasions have claimed lives, the BMTC is planning training in defensive driving for 12,000 of its drivers to prevent accidents.

The training will be conducted by the Traffic Management Centre and will include live accident videos to show drivers how to avoid collisions. Despite receiving training on accident prevention, some drivers are still causing crashes. There are allegations that drivers provided by private vendors have not received proper training, and this may be why accidents are happening.

The recent accident at KR Circle involving two electric buses was also owned by a private company and operated under contract for BMTC. In this setup, the driver works for the private company while only the conductor is a BMTC employee. The KR Circle accident was caused by a private driver of a private company.

Because of incidents like this, the department is now planning another round of training. As for the victims, one of the eight injured people has been discharged. Treatment for the remaining seven passengers is still going on.