In an effort to enhance road safety, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has implemented a ban on mobile phones in the driver’s cabin. This measure aims to reduce distractions and ensure the safety of both TSRTC staff and passengers.
In order to assess the situation, the TSRTC’s Greater Hyderabad Zone recently held a meeting with top-performing drivers who have maintained a clean record without any road accidents. During the meeting, it was emphasized that using mobile phones while driving can lead to distractions and, consequently, road accidents. In response to this, the TSRTC management issued an instruction on October 18, requiring drivers to deposit their mobile phones at their respective depots before starting their shifts.
Despite these instructions, it came to the attention of TSRTC officers that at least three drivers were still using mobile phones while driving. Alarmed by this, a new set of instructions was issued on October 30, stressing the strict implementation of the policy.
According to these new instructions, notices will be displayed on depot boards reminding drivers to deposit their mobile phones with supervisors at change-over points before going online. Mobile phones should be placed in racks at the depot control chart point, and two separate record registers will be maintained. One register will document drivers who carried mobile phones, while the other will keep track of those who did not bring their mobile phones.
However, conductors have been exempted from this policy. Furthermore, in case of emergencies, drivers are permitted to use the conductor’s phone, but only when the bus is stationary at a bus stop. To further tighten the rules, the corporation emphasized that action will be taken against conductors if drivers are found using mobile phones while on duty.
K. Hanumanthu Mudiraj from the Telangana Jathiya Mazdoor Union, a TSRTC trade union, expressed understanding for the ban on mobile phone usage in the driver’s cabin as a measure to address road safety concerns. However, he believes that requiring drivers to deposit their phones at the depot is going too far, as they need to have access to information such as ticket sales on iTIMS.