The Fiji Bus Operators Association has welcomed the reforms announced by the government to allow private driver’s license holders to apply for a class five bus driver’s license.

FBOA General Secretary Rohit Latchan says they made a submission to government earlier this year suggesting a way to simplify the process of obtaining a driving license for bus drivers.

Latchan says this will help address the severe shortage of PSV-licensed drivers across the country.

He says age should not be the main criteria for determining a person’s ability to make safe judgements, but should be based on objective tests, including the level of maturity and decision-making skills of a person applying for a PSV licence.

Latchan adds the shortage of licensed bus drivers is causing a crisis in the industry and a simple way to address this problem is to reduce the barriers to obtaining PSV licences.

It should be noted PSV licences will be issued only to drivers with a clean LTA and police.record.