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The Fiji Bus Operators Association has hit back at Land Transport Authority for threatening to penalise bus companies because of overloading.

General Secretary, Rohit Latchan argues they understand the safety aspect of bus loads, but the real cause of overloading is road congestion.

Latchan was responding to new LTA chief executive Samuel Simpson who says traffic infringement notices will be issued to bus companies carrying excess passengers.

He says bus timetables are regulated by the LTA but because of traffic congestion, people are crowding on to the earlier buses.

He says slow-moving traffic also means passengers are able to force their way onto already crowded buses.

Latchan says another factor causing overloading is that students who previously travelled in designated school buses are now allowed to travel on regular services and this is contributing to excess passengers on early trips.