KSRTC needs better driving culture: Over 800 accidents a year

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: More than 800 accidents involving KSRTC buses are reported every year, both major and minor. Despite the alarming numbers, there has been little visible change. The management is yet to take effective steps to ensure proper training for safe driving or to enforce strict accountability measures.

The latest incident occurred at Chippilithodu in Wayanad, where a 65-year-old woman named Janu from Vythiri had to have her left leg amputated. Passengers and relatives allege that the accident happened because the driver moved the bus before she could safely get down.

There have also been recent fatal accidents. In Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, photographer K Gopakumar died after being hit by a KSRTC bus. In another incident at Kazhakkoottam, a Technopark employee was killed in a similar accident.

Officials say that studies and reviews are regularly conducted at both the unit level and the chief office level to reduce accidents. They also claim that drivers involved in frequent accidents are identified and given continuous training. However, drivers argue that outdated buses are a major reason behind the accidents.

10 years, 8522 accidents
Over the past 10 years, KSRTC buses have been involved in 8,522 accidents, resulting in 899 deaths. Between 2016 and 2024, verdicts were delivered in 4,823 accident compensation cases. In 1,443 cases without insurance coverage, compensation has been paid in 833 cases. As of January 2025, compensation amounting to Rs 13,00,29,628 is still pending in 610 cases.