The latest local viral video doing the rounds on Facebook shows a bus driver who ends up with the steering wheel in his hands   ... literally.

The 1 minute ten second video was shot on board a bus as the vehicle was driving along the Attard-Rabat road.

It is clear from the start that there is something wrong with the wobbly steering wheel. Then, at one point the bus stops as the steering wheel comes off. The driver is filmed waving the steering wheel at another bus driver as if to show him what the problem is. "I told you," he yells out, seemingly indicating that this was not the first time the steering wheel had come off. 

The video was uploaded on Sunday and has been viewed almost 5,000 times.  

Driver suspended - Ministry

A Transport Ministry spokesperson told The Malta Independent this morning that the bus was part of the rented fleet being used as part of the public transport system. In a press release issued this afternoon, the Ministry said the bus has been pulled out of service and the driver was suspended. 

"Following the circulation online of a video-clip where a bus driver is seen struggling with a damaged steering wheel while on the road carrying passengers, Malta Public Transport has identified the vehicle and driver as being employed by one of its subcontractors.

Both bus and driver have been immediately suspended from service while Malta Public Transport is investigating this case and while Transport Malta inspects the bus for safety reasons. The bus company has expressed deep concern and surprise at this incident, condemning the witnessed behaviour as irresponsible and putting passengers at risk." 

 

We were promised something better by Labour - Busuttil

PN Leader Simon Busuttil said this afternoon the PN had admitted its mistakes on public transport but said the PL had promised something better.

Dr Busuttil wrote on Facebook: "I was just linked to this clip a few minutes ago. Something of the sort could lead to fatal accidents on our roads, at the detriment of our Maltese citizens and tourists. We were the first to acknowledge past mistakes in the national bus service, but weren't we promised better by the Labour government?"