Refresher training, review of records: BEST rolls out new safety directives

Drivers with prior violations, repeated defaults, or previous suspensions will be withdrawn from active duty until cleared following review. (File photo)

In the wake of the Bhandup BEST bus accident, which claimed four lives and 10 ten injured, BEST has issued a new set of safety directives for its drivers, including mandatory refresher and skill upgradation training, review of driver records and the deployment of Mobile Driver Training Vehicle to ensure dissemination of safety practices amongst BEST drivers.

Under the new directives, all electric bus drivers, including BEST on-roll and wet-lease operators, are required to undergo refresher training. The programme covers defensive driving, safe handling of electric buses, braking behaviour, speed regulation, and overall road safety practices. Depot managers have been instructed to ensure full participation.

It will also undertake review of driver records and deployment control, in which a comprehensive review of driver service records will be conducted. Drivers with prior violations, repeated defaults, or previous suspensions will be withdrawn from active duty until cleared following review.

BEST will also deploy Mobile Driver Training Vehicle to ensure uniform dissemination of safety practices across the city. A mobile training unit will visit all 27 depots for on-site sensitisation of drivers. Drivers involved in accidents may also be temporarily assigned alternative duties as a sensitisation measure, without affecting due process.

“Passenger safety is our foremost responsibility. These directives are to be implemented immediately to ensure all drivers are trained, monitored, and sensitised to handle buses safely,” said Sonia Sethi, General Manager, BEST undertaking.

The Bhandup accident comes nearly a year after the Kurla BEST bus crash, which had prompted the introduction of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aimed at enhancing driver training, enforcing speed limits, implementing routine vehicle inspections, and monitoring driver rest periods.

The Kurla SOPs, introduced after the December 2024 accident, focussed primarily on procedural training for wet-lease drivers. This included 15 days of on-wheel training and six days of classroom familiarisation, verification of driver documents at the traffic head office, depot-level road safety sessions, and certification before deployment. While these measures provided a basic framework, recurring incidents such as the Bhandup accident highlighted the need for additional enforcement and hands-on measures.