Fabian Debesa
02/05/2020 - 18:53
- Clarín.com
- Society
The national government decided to put under the magnifying glass the authorization of double-decker micros in long-distance routes. According to the president of the National Transportation Regulation Commission (CNRT), José Ramón Arteaga, the authorities will open “a process of technical review of the viability of these equipment as passenger transport vehicles”.
In addition, the official said that the Ministry of Infrastructure (on which the CNRT depends) decided “to end the current rest book mechanism” , which is the system for controlling the work activity of drivers.
Both decisions met one day after the overthrow of a group traveling from Miramar to General Pacheco, which caused the death of two occupants and 30 injured , including three women who are still hospitalized with severe injuries.
The road incident recorded in Samborombón, on a curve of kilometer 93, towards the Federal Capital, was the third in less than two months . "It is urgent to review the viability of double-decker microphones, which represent 98% of the long-distance automotive mobile park in Argentina," Arteaga confirmed to Clarin .
The authorities intend to evaluate the "safety, stability and design" of these transports. To that end, Arteaga explained, a round of consultations with experts and specialized institutes of national universities will be opened. They will also face a consultation table with the business chambers that group the carriers.
Road safety specialists have an almost unanimous position: they consider the "double groups" to be hesitant . "On the routes they are unstable . Circulating at more than 90 kilometers per hour, with side winds and in a curve, they end up being insecure. It is a logical principle, since they have the same trail as a normal micro, but with almost double high, "explained Leandro González of the NGO" Creating Consciousness. "
The authorization of the groups is done by resolution of the ministry. But in Infrastructure they intend to initiate a process of “negotiation and agreement” with the business sectors before prohibiting or suspending the circulation of these vehicles.
"We have to reach a consensus to avoid judicialization and that it is not an economic damage for the sector," said the head of the control body.
"Simple" buses have a maximum capacity of 48 passengers . The doubles can carry up to 60 travelers in the seats. Therefore, companies began to incorporate them into their fleets and now represent almost all of those who make long trips . According to the CNRT data, among those who make medium distance journeys, they represent 50% of the units and reach 70% among those who are dedicated to “tourist trips”.
Another fact confirmed by specialists: in Europe the "high" are only used for urban sections. And in Latin America, Argentina and Peru are the only countries that authorize its use for long routes.
Another dark spot that emerged from recent accidents is the working condition of the drivers. In a WhatsApp audio broadcast hours after the Samborombón accident, Ernesto Dutto, who was accompanying, acknowledged that the driver, Walter Falcón (24) "fell asleep . " And in his story he said that "we arrived (at the first destination) and bounced." In the jargon of the bus drivers this expression refers to finishing a tour and immediately getting back into the car to embark on a new trip.
“In that statement it is clear that they arrived and left each station. That should be controlled with the rest books, but in reality they are a lack of control, ”admitted Arteaga.
Therefore, the ministry in charge of Mario Meoni plans to modify the mechanism that supervises the hours of work and relaxation of bus drivers. Now that is verified with a paper notebook. In addition, there is a notebook for companies of provincial jurisdiction and another for those under the national orbit. "There is the decision to move quickly to a technological system that does not have the possibility of the driver driving more than he can , and rest 10 hours if he is away from home and 12 if he is at home," said the president of the CNRT.
“We have to eradicate the rest book as it works now. It is violated and there is no way to control the work of the drivers, "he said.
La Plata I corresponded.
DD