❓ A parliamentary question raises concerns about unsafe driving behaviours of Redlion Bus and Coach Company, contracted to transport students. The Minister's response largely deflects responsibility to the company, stating no contractual breaches were found.
AnsweredQoN 2582Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Redlion Bus and Coach Company in Esperance and the photograph entitled "Unsafe Driving Behaviours" which may be found at robin.chapple.com/qdata, and ask: (a) is
it correct that it has been reported to the company, that employees have been sighted doing the following, whilst driving with students on the bus: (i) speeding around the town; (ii) speaking on mobile phones; (iii) texting on mobile phones; (iv) driving in various unsafe manners; (v) parking
buses on railway crossings, with traffic in front of and behind the bus; and (vi) on
one occasion driven through a stop sign and onto a
highway, which had a 110km/h speed restriction, and out in front of a truck
requiring the truck driver to brake quite strongly so as to avoid a collision
with that bus; (b) if no to any of (a), what is correct concerning these matters; (c) if yes to any of (a): (i) were the complaints recorded by the company; and (ii) what
action has been taken by the company to rectify these matters, how was it verified that these actions were taken, and does the company consider these
problems completely rectified; (d) was
the Mnister and the Department of Transport (DOT) aware of any of these driving behaviours referred to in (a); (e) if yes to (d), what action has the Minister and the DOT undertaken to ensure they do not reoccur; (f) does
the Minister consider the driving behaviours referred to in (a) as safe, legal
and appropriate on behalf of a company that is transporting children under
contract to the DOT; (g) if no to (f), why not; (h) why
have the Operations Manager, the Occupational Health and Safety Manager, and
the person responsible for training and assessing in this company allowed the
standard of driving to denigrate to the point where the complaints referred
to in (a) are being raised with the company by other bus drivers and members of the public; (i) is
the Minister satisfied that the persons responsible for operations management, occupational
health and safety management, and training and
assessing in this company, are ensuring that drivers in this company are
conducting themselves in an appropriate driving manner whilst driving under
contract to the DOT; (j) if yes to (i), why; (k) if
no to (i), why not, and what will the Minister do to ensure that the responsible persons are fulfilling their contractual obligations with the DOT in this company; (l) have
any contractual obligations with the DOT been breached in the behaviours
referred to in (a); (m) if
yes to (l), which obligations have been breached and what is the penalty for
each breach; and (n) if
yes to (l), what actions will the Minister take to ensure that these behaviours
are discontinued and therefore, ensuring the safety of the children transported
by this company?
it correct that it has been reported to the company, that employees have been sighted doing the following, whilst driving with students on the bus: (i) speeding around the town; (ii) speaking on mobile phones; (iii) texting on mobile phones; (iv) driving in various unsafe manners; (v) parking
buses on railway crossings, with traffic in front of and behind the bus; and (vi) on
one occasion driven through a stop sign and onto a
highway, which had a 110km/h speed restriction, and out in front of a truck
requiring the truck driver to brake quite strongly so as to avoid a collision
with that bus; (b) if no to any of (a), what is correct concerning these matters; (c) if yes to any of (a): (i) were the complaints recorded by the company; and (ii) what
action has been taken by the company to rectify these matters, how was it verified that these actions were taken, and does the company consider these
problems completely rectified; (d) was
the Mnister and the Department of Transport (DOT) aware of any of these driving behaviours referred to in (a); (e) if yes to (d), what action has the Minister and the DOT undertaken to ensure they do not reoccur; (f) does
the Minister consider the driving behaviours referred to in (a) as safe, legal
and appropriate on behalf of a company that is transporting children under
contract to the DOT; (g) if no to (f), why not; (h) why
have the Operations Manager, the Occupational Health and Safety Manager, and
the person responsible for training and assessing in this company allowed the
standard of driving to denigrate to the point where the complaints referred
to in (a) are being raised with the company by other bus drivers and members of the public; (i) is
the Minister satisfied that the persons responsible for operations management, occupational
health and safety management, and training and
assessing in this company, are ensuring that drivers in this company are
conducting themselves in an appropriate driving manner whilst driving under
contract to the DOT; (j) if yes to (i), why; (k) if
no to (i), why not, and what will the Minister do to ensure that the responsible persons are fulfilling their contractual obligations with the DOT in this company; (l) have
any contractual obligations with the DOT been breached in the behaviours
referred to in (a); (m) if
yes to (l), which obligations have been breached and what is the penalty for
each breach; and (n) if
yes to (l), what actions will the Minister take to ensure that these behaviours
are discontinued and therefore, ensuring the safety of the children transported
by this company?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 March 2015
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Transport
Response time
29 days
Insofar as the Public Transport Authority (PTA) is concerned, the PTA has a contract with Redlion Bus and Coach to operate intra-town school bus services. This question has been answered in that context.
(a)(i)-(vi) Staff related issues are the responsibility of the contracted service provider.
(b)-(c)(ii) Not applicable
(d) No.
(e) Not applicable
(f) No.
(g) The driving behaviours described contravene the Road Traffic Code.
(h) Staff related issues are the responsibility of the contracted service provider.
(i) Yes.
(j) The picture in question refers to drivers exceeding a 10 km/hour posted speed limit. There is no other evidence associated with any other driving practices.
(k) Not applicable
(l) No.
(m)-(n) Not applicable
(a)(i)-(vi) Staff related issues are the responsibility of the contracted service provider.
(b)-(c)(ii) Not applicable
(d) No.
(e) Not applicable
(f) No.
(g) The driving behaviours described contravene the Road Traffic Code.
(h) Staff related issues are the responsibility of the contracted service provider.
(i) Yes.
(j) The picture in question refers to drivers exceeding a 10 km/hour posted speed limit. There is no other evidence associated with any other driving practices.
(k) Not applicable
(l) No.
(m)-(n) Not applicable
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