SCHOOL BUS OPERATORS (Breaches of safety regulations)

Dr Koh Lam Son asked the Minister for Communications and Information what safety regulationsschool bus operators have to observe and whether the number of breaches increased in the years 1983 to 1987.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications and Information (Mr Ho Kah Leong)(for the Minister for Communications and Information): Sir, on behalf of my Minister.

Sir, the ROV and the Traffic Police constantly monitor the safety of school buses. Operators of school buses have to comply with safety measures and to see to the safe boarding and alighting of school children. For example, a speed limit of 50 kph is applied on school buses. All school buses are required to have a dual brake system which prevents total brake failure. They are also subjected to an annual inspection and those above 10 years are checked bi-annually. Those that fail would not be allowed on the roads until the faults have been rectified.

All school buses are also required to have rear warning lights which warn motorists that boarding and alighting is taking place. There is also a light to warn the driver if the door is not closed properly and a buzzer to warn the passengers that the door is going to close. In addition, every bus which is licensed to carry more than 30 school children must have a licensed conductor or attendant.

Sir, the Member has asked if the number of breaches of these safety regulations has increased in the years 1983 to 1987. ROV does not have such statistics. However, the number of accidents involving school buses has dropped by one-third, from 966 in 1983 to 621 in 1987. Most of the accidents or nearly 90% are minor with no injuries sustained. This is the result of constant monitoring and enforcement by the ROV and the Traffic Police and reflects an improvement in safety awareness. Another important fact in school bus safety is passenger education. In this regard, the Traffic Police has an on-going road safety programme for school children.

Sir, like the Members of this House, my Ministry is also concerned with safety of school buses because they carry our young school children. The ROV will, together with the Traffic Police, look into the continual upgrading of safety measures to ensure that travel on school buses remains safe.

Dr Koh Lam Son (Telok Blangah): Sir, may I ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary how does the Ministry actually monitor the situation of the bus drivers supervising the alighting and boarding of the school children at the various pick-up points in streets and estates. How does his Ministry actually do it especially on rainy days because I believe that there are many instances where children are not actually supervised.

The other question is whether the Ministry would consider further measures to upgrade school buses so that they are not only safe but also comfortable, perhaps to air-condition the school buses because many of these school children are very young and they have to travel long hours in the buses.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: Sir, as I mentioned in my reply, a school bus that is licensed to carry more than 30 school children must have an attendant. So I presume the attendant will be able to look after the boarding and alighting of school children. For those carrying less than 30 children they are mainly mini-buses. I think the driver can render personalised service. However, I will ask ROV to take note of the Member's remarks.

As regards the upgrading of school buses, Sir, the mandatory life span of a school bus is 20 years. So it is inevitable that we see some of these old buses still running on the road. But, mind you, Sir, these buses are subjected to a yearly inspection. Those above 10 years old are bi-annually inspected. So they are safe, they are well-maintained and road worthy.

As to the point whether school buses should be air-conditioned, I think we will leave this to the operators. If the parents are prepared to pay more, I do not think we will object to it.