A blue bus drove through a heavy traffic toll road when two cars crashed in front. The bus driver hit the cars. The bus engine was damaged and the automatic doors would not open.
When smoke emanated from the bus engine the passengers were reported to have panicked.
One passenger grabbed the emergency hammer and broke the bus windows, allowing the passengers to escape.
But this was not a real traffic accident. It was an emergency drill held by transport company Blue Bird Group at the Jakarta International School (JIS) on Wednesday. The simulation involved dozens of Blue Bird drivers.
"Safety is the most important thing," said Sigit P. Djokosoetono, the director of Pusaka Group, the company's subsidiary.
Sigit said it was important for drivers to receive emergency training.
"The training will teach them how to respond to an accident and perform first aid," he said.
"For example, drivers must know accident victims with fractured bones must not be moved immediately. An area of the body that may be broken should be put in a splint before it's bandaged," he said.
Teguh Wijayanto, the Blue Bird Group's public relations chief, said the company's buses were equipped with standard safety tools such as first-aid kits, emergency hammers, fire extinguishers and emergency doors.
Hendah Sunugraha, the chief of land transportation management at the city transportation agency, said all air-conditioned (AC) buses must implement these safety tools because their doors and windows usually cannot be opened manually.
"The tools are essential to help passengers escape if an accident occurs," he told The Jakarta Post.
The government issued a regulation on standard safety tools in 2003, but many bus operators allegedly ignore it.
Hendah said the agency often held raids to check if safety tools had been deployed in AC buses. He said although he thought first-aid training was not essential, buses and other vehicles must have first-aid kits. Buses without them could be fined by police.
If drivers repeat the same offense, the agency would revoke their operation licenses.
In Jakarta, traffic accidents involving public transport occur every day. Many victims must wait a long time to receive treatment while drivers mostly have limited knowledge about how to deal with the situation.
Non-AC buses are currently not obliged to implement safety measures, said Hendah.
"Non-AC bus doors and windows can be opened manually," he said. "They do not need these tools."
Tempointeraktif.com said last month a woman involved in an accident in a non-AC bus was nearly trapped.
The bus swerved left into another bus, preventing an exit path. The passenger, however, managed to slip out the exit door through a small space. (mrs)
