Far from banning the "kennels", as they are known, due to a spate of fatal accidents, governors and mayors are even launching their own fleets, free of charge.

In the Libertador municipality hometown of President Nicolas Maduro, himself a former bus driver, the words "Loving Caracas" can be read on the transport trucks.

But that belies the reality of a situation in which 55 people have died since April using improvised transport methods such as the "kennels".

In May, 16 people died in Merida in one accident.