Abu Dhabi: Illegal mini-bus services transporting people around the UAE are not only putting passengers’ safety at risk, they’re also affecting legitimate mini-bus services that operate in the country.
Gulf News spoke to a couple of drivers that legally operate mini-bus services from Abu Dhabi’s bus station, with the drivers explaining the safety regulations they have to abide by in order to carry passengers.
Bus safety is on the minds of many following the fatal bus accident earlier this week that killed 13 labourers on Emirates Road in Dubai. Three others injured in the accident remain hospitalised at Rashid Hospital.
Fazal Rahman, who’s been working in the UAE for more than 30 years, told Gulf News: “We have a document giving us permission from the Ministry of Interior, the government watches and regulates our services.”
“On our 14-seat bus we are not allowed to take more than eight passengers. We receive a Dh500 fine if we are caught by the police and our licence can be taken away.”
Mir Azzam, another mini-bus driver who also spoke to Gulf News, gave more information on the regulations by which operators must abide.
“We are only allowed to transport one group of passengers in one day. So, if I am taking passengers to Dubai today, I am not allowed to take any passengers from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, and I drive back alone. I am also not allowed to drive any passengers the next day, and must wait until the day after.”
While these bus drivers play by the rules, others don’t when they run their illegal and unregulated mini-bus services in the country.
Sayyed Kassam, who has also been working in the UAE for more than 30 years, told Gulf News about the negative effects of the illegal mini-bus transportation.
“They are unregulated, they have no rules. They just come up to you while you are walking and ask you if you want to go to Sharjah or Dubai.
“We can only carry eight passengers. For them it doesn’t matter, they carry as many as they can take. They also make three to four trips a day, with the drivers sometimes not getting much sleep.
“They also pick up passengers right on the highway, something we aren’t allowed to do.
“There have been a lot of accidents, with people dying, and getting injured while traveling with these mini-buses,” Kassam said.
Another negative consequence of such illegal services is its effect on legal transportation. “They also harm our business as we lose both passengers and money because of them. We have complained to the authorities who have said they are trying to deal with it, but these people are a problem for us,” said Kassam.
Gulf News attempted to speak to operators of illegal bus services but was unable to secure interviews, highlighting the clandestine manner in which these illegal bus services operate.
—Sami Zaatari is a trainee at Gulf News
