Women drivers for women passengers

The National Transport PNG

SIX Papua New Guinean women will undergo three weeks training in Australia to enhance their skills in driving large buses.
Ginigoada instructor, Rodney Graham, said two of these women had left for Australia last week and has commenced training with the Venture Bus Company in Melbourne.
He said the training would give them more experience and confidence in operating large buses in high traffic areas.
He said the programme was a first of its kind in the country and aims to elevate the value of women by showing that woman can do what man are doing.
“It’s a new thing, we are happy to help them achieve their dream of driving large buses.
“This is our first time to train women and give them some sense of pride and respect as I believe in gender balance,” he said.
He said the woman’s attitude towards training was good as they were keen to learn and try it out.
“As their instructor, I am proud to say that they are confident and prepared to drive large buses in the street of Port Moresby,” he said.
“First part of the training was in Port Moresby practical driver training using a 30 seater bus and practical driver training using a 40 plus seater bus.
The second part of the training will be in Victoria, Australia, where the driver training course will be run by Ventura Bus Company.”
He said the training was more on improving their skills in reverse parking, parallel parking, defensive driving, and control of the vehicle. It also included:

  • Pre-Driving Evaluation and test
  • Traffic Rules and Regulations
  • Power Check
  • Observation
  • Driver under instruction
  • Monitoring and Evaluation
  • Driver assessment and review
  • Driver under final instruction

Geita Kaunger, from KiraKira village said, she was confident in driving the large Meri Seif buses and thanked Ginigoada for giving her the opportunity to become a big bus driver.
“I was inspired by women drivers in Australia to take up the challenge in being a big bus driver.
“Safety of women in Port Moresby is very important and I don’t feel safe when a man is driving, thus I feel that I needed to be the driver of the Meri Seif bus.
“ I see that most women were harassed on PMVs thus the Meri seif bus has provided a safe and reliable transport for women in Port Moresby.
“Woman drivers for woman passengers a way forward for Papua New Guinea,” she said.