SAFETY MEASURES ON SCHOOL BUSES

Encik Wan Hussin bin Hj Zoohri asked the Minister for Communications and Information whether the safety measures imposed on school buses are adequate; and, if not, whether he will introduce other measures to ensure maximum safety to school children using these buses.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications and Information (Mr Ho Kah Leong) (for the Minister for Communications and Information): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked by my Minister to reply.

The safety measures that have been imposed on school buses are presently adequate. New safety measures will be introduced as and when they are found to be necessary and practical. The Registry of Vehicles and the Traffic Police constantly monitor the safety of school buses.

Sir, safety measures are imposed on school buses to ensure safe operations of the school bus and safe boarding and alighting for the school children. A speed limit of 50 km per hour is applied on school buses. All school buses registered on or after 1st July 1980 are required to have a split braking system which prevents total brake failure. School buses are also subjected to an annual inspection and those above 10 years are checked bi-annually. Besides checks for road worthiness, checks are also made on safety features. To ensure safe boarding and alighting, all school buses are required to have rear warning lights which warn motorists that boarding and alighting is taking place. There is also a compulsory door warning buzzer which informs the driver that the door is not closed properly.

Sir, one important factor in school bus safety is passenger education. The Traffic Police will be incorporating this aspect of road safety education into their visits to schools to talk to school children.

Sir, I am sure that Members of this House are concerned with safety of school buses because they carry our young school children. My Ministry shares this concern too. Continual upgrading of safety measure will be enforced to make travel on school buses as safe as humanly possible.

Encik Wan Hussin bin Hj Zoohri: Sir, would the Ministry of Communications consider incorporating seat belts for school children in school buses and also consider the presence of a school bus attendant in all school buses?

Mr Ho Kah Leong: Sir, my Ministry is of the view that the installation of seat belts in large passenger vehicles such as school buses is not practical as it may impede mass evacuation in the event of an emergency.

As regards attendants, at the present moment, buses which are licensed to carry more than 30 school children are required to have an attendant on board the bus.