Egged bus
Photo: George Ginsberg
Egged, Kavim 'blind' to special needs
Indictments filed against two prominent bus companies for neglecting to install loudspeakers
The Justice Ministry's Commission for Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities filed criminal indictments Sunday against public transport companies Egged and Kavim for neglecting to consider the needs of the visually impaired.
The indictment filed against Egged at the Haifa Magistrates' Court says that between May and July of 2010 the commission sent no less than 10 letters warning the bus company that their vehicles were not properly equipped with loudspeakers announcing stops to passengers, in accordance with the Equal Rights for People with Disabilities Law.
In October 2010, the indictment adds, the Justice Ministry ordered Egged to employ internal and external loudspeakers in all buses. An inspection carried out one month later found that the orders were not implemented.
The indictment against Kavim, filed with the Tel Aviv Magistrates' Court, says similar warning letters were sent between April and September of 2010, and in November the ministry ordered the company to install loudspeakers to the same effect.
An inspection held in January 2011 showed that the orders had been ignored.
In contrast, the Dan bus company has equipped many of its buses with loudspeakers in accordance with the law, which announce the direction of travel and upcoming stops.
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