Bus Drivers in the Pacific Island country of
Samoa
are fuming over the decision to switch all traffic to driving on the
left side of the road. Some drivers say they would rather set fire to
their buses than make the switch, according to the
Brisbane Times.
The historic and highly controversial
road rule change will
take place on September 7th. It is designed to align Samoa with the
driving regulations in nearby Australia and New Zealand and encourage
relatives living abroad to export vehicles home.
A group of 24 local bus operators are refusing to pay the charge of
$50,000 USD per bus to convert the vehicles to right-hand drive and
move the passenger door to the other side of the bus, claiming that the
cost of doing so would put them out of business. The Samoan government
has offered a six-month waiving of license fees, but that compensation
only comes to $1,180.
Bus driver Nanai Tawan from Mapuitiga Transport said the price of
conversion was so excessive that he would set his buses on fire before
driving on the left: “In protest I would rather bring my buses to
parliament and burn them there for parliament to see what they are
doing to us.”
Villagers angry over the road changes have pulled up the new “keep
left” road signs, repainted directional arrows on the roads to reflect
the old orientation, and have even stated that they will not allow cars
to drive through their villages if the vehicles are driving on the left
side of the road. A group known as People Against Switching Sides
(PASS) has filed a suit against the government.
Samoan Prime Minister Tullaepa Sailele Malielegaoi stands firmly
behind the switch despite criticism that he made the decision without
consulting the community or first determining the feasibility of the
switch. This month he further angered the opposition, saying that it
would only take a person three minutes to learn how to drive on the
left side of the road.
Photo courtesy of
Felipe Skroski under the
Creative Commons License.