After a yellow Hiace bus overturned inside the Pechon Street Transport Centre this week, leaving two men injured, law enforcers have held the driver accountable. Officials confirmed that steps have already been taken against the driver, who they said had several outstanding warrants at the time of the crash.
Authority confirmed the driver is now facing multiple charges, including on reasonable suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to properly ensure the safety of passengers and allowing body protrusion.
On the heels of the incident, a conductor has blamed students for the reckless behaviour of those minibuses. The yellow minibuses, commonly referred to as “vibes buses” by regular users, operate out of downtown Kingston. They are popular among young people and students for their loud music and energetic atmosphere. While some passengers see the experience as harmless fun, others have long criticised the buses as a danger to public safety, especially where schoolchildren are concerned.
However, a conductor who operates on another one of the yellow buses pointed the finger at student passengers, arguing that their demands have helped fuel reckless driving. According to the conductor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the culture did not develop by accident. He claimed that many students actively seek out buses that deliver speed, music and excitement, often bypassing others that operate more cautiously.
“The students now, a that them want,” he said, adding that they are happy and vibing in the buses. He explained that it is not unusual to see students waiting deliberately for a specific bus, even if others are available. In his view, this behaviour has helped normalise risky conduct on the road.
The conductor said certain buses have gained reputations that attract large numbers of students, creating pressure on drivers to live up to expectations. He indicated that there are some students who may not like the nature of the vibes on buses but feel forced to accept it because some drivers refuse to transport them.
While he placed significant responsibility on passenger conduct, the conductor acknowledged that drivers cannot escape accountability and must remain responsible for the safety of everyone on board. He explained that the bus he works on plays loud music, but they do not swerve while driving, which was what the Hiace bus was allegedly doing when it crashed.
He said his boss does not allow such recklessness. A long-serving bus operator with more than four decades of experience said the conduct of those buses is nothing new. Speaking to the Jamaica Star, he said he has observed the same risky behaviour for years and added that the unnecessary behaviour amounts to “pure idleness”.