The bus seen on a YouTube video with a wobbly steering wheel which also came off at one point has been repaired and is now safe for use, Malta Public Transport said.

The video, uploaded on timesofmalta.com on Tuesday, showed a bus driver struggling with the damaged steering wheel while on the road carrying passengers.

Malta Public Transport said it carried out an in-depth analysis after the video was broadcast. The bus, it said, was a low floor one owned by a private sub-contractor operating on the public transport network, and driven by one of the sub-contractor’s employees.

Malta Public Transport suspended the driver and referred the bus for inspection by Transport Malta officials as well as a full roadworthiness test. The test confirmed it has now been fully repaired.

An urgent meeting was also held the sub-contractor yesterday requesting further information before a decision on whether the bus was to be put back into service was taken.

Malta Public Transport said the company expressed concern at the incident and condemned the witnessed behaviour as “irresponsible and putting passengers at risk”.

Malta Public Transport said it insisted that drivers must stop their bus in the first safe place available immediately upon noticing any issues that might put passengers or other road users at risk, and inform the company’s control room to dispatch an alternative bus to transport passengers.

The driver was also bound to inform passengers of the situation, apologise for the inconvenience, and assure them that a bus was on its way to pick them up and take them safely to their destination.

It said it insisted with all employees and subcontractors that public and passenger safety remained its highest priority and said it would always demand that everybody adheres to the highest levels of checks, safety protocols and procedures.