Yesterday we reported that the Transport Ministry had decided to mandate daily urine tests for express drivers to minimize the risk of bus accidents caused by drivers being under the influence, as has been increasingly the case recently.
The initial announcement by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi made it sound like all express bus drivers would be tested for drugs every single day, but the reality is a little less strict: the daily drug tests will be carried out randomly, and is rolling out randomly.
The first day of the drug tests jointly carried out by the Road Transport Department (RTD) and the National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA) tested a total of 71 bus drivers, at four bus terminals in Klang Valley, not the announced 8,600 drivers nationwide.
RTD Federal Territory assistant enforcement director Shahrul Azhar told Bernama the four bus terminals were Pudu Sentral Terminal, South Integrated Terminal, Genting Highlands Bus Terminal and Putra Bus Terminal.
“We conducted the operation during peak hours, prior to departure of the buses,” he said.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Aziz clarified that the daily urine tests on bus drivers would be conducted randomly and not applied on those who have underwent the test or concentrated at the same bus terminals.
“The test will be conducted daily but not on the same drivers who have undergone the test or at the bus terminal. It will be on random and the bus drivers must always be prepared for the test.”
See Also: Transport Ministry: Express bus drivers to undergo daily urine tests
