BUTTERWORTH: A total of 25 express and tour buses were found to be operating with only one driver for long-distance journeys during an operation conducted by the Penang Road Transport Department at three toll plazas in the state yesterday.
In a statement, the Penang RTD said that an express bus was also seized during the operation as the driver did not have a valid driving licence.
The operation, which began at 10pm and ended at 8am, focused on locations at the Juru Toll Plaza, Bukit Tambun Toll Plaza, and the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge Toll Plaza.
"The purpose of this enforcement effort is to monitor, detect, and take action against drivers or commercial vehicle owners who fail to comply with the regulations and laws under the Road Transport Act 1987, its associated rules, and the Land Public Transport Act (APAD 2010).
"We issued summonses to 25 express and tour buses for not having a second driver for journeys exceeding 300 kilometres or more than four continuous hours of driving. In addition, we seized an express bus because its driver did not have a driving licence, and a container lorry was also seized because its driver was underage," it said.
It added that other offences detected during the nearly 10-hour operation included 23 buses without logbooks or with logbooks not updated by drivers, as well as one case involving the absence of a tour guide.
"In total, 273 summonses were issued for various offences and technical violations," it said.