The Public Transport Department of Dubai Municipality has launched an awareness campaign to educate people on the code of conduct while traveling on buses, which recommends fines ranging from Dh50 to Dh1,000 and/or police action against the violators, reported Khaleej Times, citing officials.
Abdelaziz Malik, Director of the Public Transport Department, said the department has prepared brochures and leaflets in different languages and is distributing them to passengers as well as at major bus stations. For the sake of example, Malik said prohibited acts include: use of abusive language with driver, inspector or controller; misbehavior, quarrelling with passengers, driver, inspector or controller; smoking and carrying any materials or equipment that may disturb other passengers in any way or endanger their safety.
Malik said the penalties were aimed at ensuring the safety of passengers as a handful of offenders should not be allowed to disturb peace of the majority.
A history of similar offences has prompted the municipality to organize the campaign.
"In the past, we had had incidents, though rare, in which passengers attacked the drivers for silly things…. There were cases of damages caused to the bus, misbehavior of passengers, failure to pay up the correct fare, cheating on the discount card...etc. But, in the absence of an appropriate code, we were unable to take any action against the offenders. Now, with the introduction of the new decision we have more teeth to deal with such situations," he said.
Talking of bus transportation, Dubai is planning to test articulated Volvo buses that could carry more than 100 passengers, said previous press reports – Albawaba.com
