The Road Transport and Safety Agency has given Scorpion Bus Services seven days to show cause why its operator’s licence should not be suspended or revoked, for employing and allowing an unlicensed driver to drive a Public service Vehicle thereby violating the terms and conditions under which the Road Service Licence was granted.
In a letter addressed to the Director of Beta Build Hardware and Electronics, trading as Scorpion Bus services, the agency has observed that the latter action by the operator is tantamount to violating the conditions upon which the operator’s licence was granted.
RTSA Head of Public Relations Fredrick Mubanga says this comes in the wake of a road traffic crash on 17th April, 2019 around 19:20 hours, involving a Scorpion bus registration number BCA 8977ZM were fourteen people died and sixteen injured.
“The crash occurred along the Chingola – Solwezi road. Accident investigations conducted by the RTSA revealed that the driver of the bus, Eddie Katoyo, was over speeding as evidenced by the fact that he overtook several vehicles and ended up hitting into a stationary truck in the opposite lane,” he said.
“Further, RTSA records indicate that on 11th April, 2019, the same bus driver was reported to have been driving at excessive speed around Chisamba area on Great North Road. He was summoned, but did not show up to answer to the charge.”
Mr. Mubanga said further investigations into the accident also indicate that the offender Mr. Eddie Katoyo was not licenced to drive a Public Service Vehicle.
He said it was also established that the driver gave false information to officers when he presented fake documentation indicating that he was licensed with a PSV licence when in fact not.
“The RTSA is concerned that the operator could allow or employ an unlicenced and inexperienced driver to drive a Public Service Vehicle, an action that undoubtedly put a lot of lives at risk further resulting in injuries and fatalities,” said Mr. Mubanga.
“Therefore, the operator abrogated the conditions of the RSL, by allowing or employing an unlicenced driver.”