18 June 2019, Apia Samoa. Member of Parliament for Gagaifomauga No.3 Hon Faaulusau Rosa Duffy Stowers has called on the Government to set aside a budget for a commercial driving school in efforts to keep people safe on buses and other public transport.
During Palrliamentary debates yesterday, Faaulusau showed concern for public safety on buses, citing recent incidents of bus accidents.
In the past 12 months, there have been several bus crashes with the most recent being a bus in Auala carrying more than 60 students.
She said that in most cases, the commercial drivers are blaming faulty breaks as the main cause of accidents.
“O la e iloa lava le danger ao le mea lava lea o le fesili atu ae fai mai e leaga taofi o pasi;
“E pei ona tou silafia le faalavelave na tupu mai i Savaii ao le tala foi lena lea na aumai.”
According to Faaulusau, a driving school could teach defensive driving as well as basic common sense which seems to be lacking amongst some of the reckless drivers involved.
“O le mea la lea e augani atu ai le sui ina ia fai se a’oga e ave uma iai ave pasi ma ave taxi, e aoao ai le common sense.”
She added if drivers applied common sense to their actions and decisions, accidents involving buses and taxis could be prevented.
In responding to the issue raised by Faaulusau, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the only way to solve such a problem is to impose heavy penalties upon both the bus driver and the bus owner..
“E lē o iai se aoga e sikaki ai nisi i le mea lea o le “common sense” masalo ana iai se kolisi e study ai tagata i le tomai lea, ailoga e ofi;
“Ae o loo iai itu o le tulafono o loo vaai i le taimi nei, o le mea tonu lava e tatau ona agai iai o le tuu i luga o le faasalaga e le gata mo i latou o loo faafoeina pasi, ae faapea foi latou o e onaina pasi.”
The Prime Minister added that another key element of the solution is for the Samoa Police Service to monitor and enforce the penalties.
“Ia mamafa le faasalaga faatasi ai ma le galulue faatasi o le matagaluega a leoleo e latou te mataituina le itu lea aemaise lava i nuu i tua.”
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