Pretoria - Western Cape provincial government is considering banning bus operators who consistently disregard the law and place human life at risk.
The province's Departments of Transport and Community Safety have pledged to leave no stone unturned to ensure that unroadworthy buses are removed in the province's roads in a bid to reduce road accidents.
"We summoned a full briefing from legal experts and senior staff to recommend steps to prevent buses and bus operators from flagrantly ignoring their responsibilities to all road users," the departments said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
MEC for Transport Robin Carlisle said that while the province cannot immediately ban dangerous bus operators, it was doing everything possible with the law to keep roads safe.
By the end of February, facilities and staff will be in place to effect 24/7 inspection of all buses entering and leaving the province on the N1 at the Beaufort West weigh-bridge and on the N2 at the Swellendam weigh-bridge.
The departments warned that any buses deliberately avoiding these inspection sites by deviating from their dedicated routes would be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, Community Safety MEC Lennit Max said bus operators who allow unsafe buses or drunk drivers to put the public's safety at risk are in the authorities' sightlines and "their days are truly numbered".
This festive season more than 20 buses were stopped and removed from the province's roads for gravely serious road safety violations.
The province has recently summoned a full briefing from legal experts and senior staff to recommend steps to prevent buses and bus operators from flagrantly ignoring their responsibilities to all road users.
