Don Mariano bus firm's drivers, conductors to undergo safety seminars

Drivers and conductors of a bus firm whose unit snarled traffic after crashing at a flyover along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) last Wednesday are to undergo mandatory drug testing and a road safety seminar. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said the drug testing and seminar will cover all drivers and conductors of Don Mariano Transport, radio dzBB reported Saturday. Only 21 of the bus firm's 70 units have been grounded in the wake of the accident last Wednesday, where eight were injured when one of its buses crashed at the EDSA Ortigas flyover. LTFRB chairman Jaime Jacob was quoted in the report as saying the road safety seminar will be held at the University of the Philippines. For its part, the Land Transportation Office will subject the company's buses to roadworthiness tests. Investigators are looking into claims that the driver of the bus in last Wednesday's incident, Florencio Beron, was speeding and texting shortly before the accident. — LBG, GMA News