The drivers of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) buses are a law unto themselves what with their constant violation of traffic rules when it comes to stopping the bus on being hailed by prospective passengers, overtaking on the move or haphazard parking at bus stops in rural areas. Though the instances are few and far between, it is not completely unknown that unsuspecting road users have lost their lives because of the fault of the RTC bus driver.
These mistakes nevertheless result in extreme trouble to other users besides testing their patience. Two-wheeler riders and motorists often lose precious time when the RTC bus driver in front refuses to budge until all the passengers alight or/and board the bus at a given roadside bus stop in the interior areas of Adilabad.
The major problem is the ‘hail and board’ policy of the TSRTC, which allows the driver to stop his bus wherever and whenever a prospective passenger waves at him. The driver invariably and suddenly stops in his tracks posing danger to the life of the motorists or motorcyclists, who might be behind him.
The hailing of a bus to stop takes place at least thrice within a km of its run in towns. Also, buses stop for passengers at places which cause problems to other road users.
For example, the drivers stop to take passengers on board while making a turn just outside the exit gate of the bus stand in Adilabad town. Then, there is the stop at the Fire Station, about 500 km ahead where again buses are halted while taking a turn at the NTR roundabout.
In villages, the size of the bus becomes a big hindrance and life-threatening issue as its width sometimes surpasses the width of the road. At rural bus stops, the drivers exhibit an aversion to parking their vehicles at the left of the road often clogging the carriageway when another bus from the opposite direction halts close to the other.
