TOOTING BY SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS (Measures to prohibit)

Mr Yeo Choo Kok asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether his Ministry has any plans to prohibit the sounding of horns by school bus drivers when picking up students in the early morning hours, especially in housing estates, so that noise pollution level can be reduced to enable residents to have a peaceful and quiet morning.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, motorists should only sound the horns of their vehicles to prevent an accident. Sounding of horns unnecessarily is an offence under the Minor Offences Act and the offenders may be liable to a fine of up to 950. Such an offence may also be dealt with under the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Rules and the Road Traffic Act where a fine of up to $1,000 or an imprisonment of up to three months can be imposed.

The Traffic Police and the Registry of Vehicles will ask the School Bus Owners' Association to cooperate by reminding school bus drivers not to misuse the horn as this will cause noise nuisance, particularly in the early morning hours in housing estates. Action will be taken against those who persist in this inconsiderate act. To educate the motoring public on the proper use of horns, the Traffic Police will highlight this subject in one of their future road safety columns in the press.