KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) is set to implement a star rating programme for express buses, aimed at improving the quality of public transportation services in the country.
Its director-general, Dr Siti Zaharah Ishak, explained that the programme will rate buses on a scale of one to five stars, providing passengers with a useful guide when choosing their bus service.
"This is a holistic programme that evaluates various safety parameters, the health and performance of drivers, and how well bus companies manage their services.
"Passenger safety, including the qualifications of drivers, is a key focus," she said.
"Our goal is to raise the standard of bus services nationwide with this initiative, and we have the support of relevant agencies, including the Road Transport Department."
Previously, Miros introduced the Asean NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme), which rates commercial vehicles based on safety performance in areas like adult and child passenger protection, as well as safety assistance technology.
Siti Zaharah said the express bus rating programme has been piloted voluntarily from 2013 to 2018, with 23 bus companies participating.
Some companies that initially received low ratings made improvements and later achieved higher scores.
The star rating system is intended to help the public, especially parents, select safer buses for their children, providing reassurance about their safety during travel.
This initiative is part of Miros' broader road safety agenda.
While the programme is currently focused on express buses, there are plans to expand it to other types of buses in phases.