Tour Agency Group Hails Stricter New Rules On Tourist Buses

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 The new regulations, which come into effect on Aug 1, call for more frequent maintenance, limits on drivers' working hours, installation of GPS tracking, and mandatory safety inspections every six months.
The Malaysia Tourism Agency Association said the new rules were timely following increasing concerns about the safety of commercial tourism vehicles.PETALING JAYA: A tourism trade group has come out in support of stricter new rules on the operation of tourist buses, and pledged to help conduct safety awareness training for tourism transport operators
The new regulations, which come into effect on Aug 1, call for more frequent vehicle maintenance, limits on working hours of drivers, the installation of GPS tracking systems, and mandatory safety inspections every six months.
The Malaysia Tourism Agency Association said implementation of the new rules was timely following the increasing concerns about the safety level of commercial tourism vehicles on the roads, Bernama reported.
Khalid Harun.Association president Khalid Harun said the new regulations were aimed at strengthening public confidence in the tourism transportation sector and ensuring greater safety for both local and international tourists.
He said official data showed that tour buses and coaches were involved in more than 2,300 accidents between 2020 and 2024; in 2023 alone, 27 deaths and more than 230 injuries were reported.
Among the main factors were mechanical failures, driver fatigue, and insufficient maintenance, highlighting the need for stricter regulations, Khalid said.
He said the association was committed to continuing cooperation on safety awareness training for tourism transport operators and promoting the use of telematics systems and digital safety technology in tourism buses, and more responsible travel scheduling to reduce driver fatigue. - FMT

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