Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has urged the Land Transport Authority to be more stringent in issuing licenses to people who drive public transport vehicles.
Tuilaepa told media yesterday LTA should take a closer look at the increasing number of traffic accidents involving public transport.
According to TV1Samoa Tuilaepa showed concern that a bus that crashed on Monday morning had more injuries than the number of passengers the bus is licensed to carry.
The bus that crashed is only licensed to carry 33 passengers but 51 people, mostly students, were injured.
Tuilaepa warned that bus owners should ensure the people they hire as bus drivers are of sound character and of a mature age as peoples’ lives are in their hands.
No one died from the accident which happened while the bus was taking students who attend a high school at Asau village in Savai’i island.
Reports indicate the bus driver sustained the worst injuries after his bus rolled while trying to overtake a car at a bend on the road.
