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A bus driver and his conductor were both fired at the behest Transport Minister Dinh La Thang for insulting behaviour towards a passenger.
Punishment for bad behaviour of bus staff
The passenger, Nguyen Ngoc Phuc, of Vinh Yen City, Vinh Phuc Province, was trying to get to Le Van Luong Street on October 22. When Phuc bought the ticket, he asked the ticket salesperson, Nguyen Chi Thanh, whether the bus would take him where he wanted to go. Thanh replied that it would, so he got on.
Once the bus started going up Kim Ma and then Nguyen Thai Hoc, Phuc realised that it wasn\'t going to take him to his destination. He then asked that the driver, Do Huu Long, to stop and let him off so he could find another way back.
The driver and ticket seller not only ignored his request, but scolded him, asking him to kneel down in front of the other passengers. After a meeting, Hanoi Transport Corporation (Transerco) decided to suspend both Long and Thanh who are staff of the corporation\'s affiliate.
Hoang Van Manh, Deputy Chief Inspector of the Hanoi Department of Transport, said that, after interviews with witnesses and employees, it was clear that Thanh was not familiar with bus routes. He had worked there only one month. When Phuc, the passenger, asked him if he could reach his destination through this route, Thanh said that he divert the bus and make an extra stop if necessary.
Once Phuc noticed that he was going in the wrong direction and asked to be let off, an argument ensued.
According to Manh, there was no actual violence. But he added that, “Under regulations, both the driver and the conductor should be fired. Our investigation into the situation is ongoing, and after we have collected enough evidence, we will decide which permanent measures will be taken.”
A representative from Transerco said that the case is an embarrassment that was detrimental to their prestige, and that they would not protect the employees who acted in such a manner.
Nguyen Xuan Hao, Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Transport, suggested that the bus driver\'s license may be revoked, and that managers of routes should also hold some responsibility for this type of violation.
On October 23, Transport Minister Dinh La Thang took a bus of route No. 34 in order to get a general view of passengers’ opinions.
Speaking with DTiNews, Thang said, “At a time when we are trying to encourage people to take the bus in Hanoi to ease traffic, this kind of incident is unacceptable. I have already put in a request to the Hanoi Transport Department and Transerco to relieve the two violators of their duties.”
Bus service quality has been a matter of public concern recently. A survey of 47,200 passengers taken by DTiNews’ readers showed that up to 93% had complaints about bus service, staff and rude behaviour on the part of other passengers. Only 4% were totally satisfied with bus service.
According to Hao, inspectors from the Hanoi Transport Department will hold a meeting Phuc to see if there is enough evidence for criminal prosecution against the driver and conductor.