BOARDING AND ALIGHTING OF SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL BUSES (Guideline)

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BOARDING AND ALIGHTING OF SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM SCHOOL BUSES:

(Guideline): 14.

Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Minister for Transport (a) what is the LTA's guideline for boarding and alighting of children from school buses and private vehicles on the main road in front of schools; and (b) in order to avoid traffic congestion and provide some road safety for parents and children using roads fronting schools, whether the use of slip road, as adopted by the French school in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, can also be adopted by all schools.

Dr Balaji Sadasivan (for the Minister for Transport): Mr Speaker, Sir, roads fronting schools should be clear of stationary vehicles to allow the main traffic to flow smoothly. This is especially so during peak hours. Students should alight and board within the school compound for their safety. However, we also acknowledge the schools' operational needs, and that some of the school compounds are not big enough to accommodate a large number of parents who drive their children to school.

To provide a balance between these needs, LTA works closely with the schools and relevant agencies, such as Traffic Police, Neighbourhood Police and sometimes the grassroots organisation, to put in place effective traffic management schemes in the vicinity of schools. Adequate and appropriate warning signs are also installed to warn motorists of students using the roads.

The proposal of a slip road for parents to drop off their kids is a good concept, especially along a busy road, but would require more land to be set aside. It would therefore not be practical or possible to do so for all schools. However, where there is land available either within the school or just outside it,

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LTA would work with the school to consider incorporating this facility.

Mdm Cynthia Phua: Can the Minister of State confirm that currently there is no requirement for schools to provide alighting or boarding points for students within the school compound and outside on the public road? Why is that so? Because most buildings are required to submit plans to the Ministry of Transport for any of the access points and also even the requirement for car park lots.

Dr Balaji Sadasivan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the safety of students alighting in schools is paramount to LTA and LTA works with schools to try to ensure that we can make it as practicable and safe as possible. But there are several factors that determine safety, besides just slip roads, points where cars should stop and students should alight. As every school in Singapore is slightly different, in terms of its entrance, the kind of traffic around it, this solution has to be individualised to the school. Hence, where the school needs LTA to change the rules around the schools, LTA does so.

Let me give you an example. At Anderson Primary School, there is a traffic crossing and there is a central railing. The children did not use the signalised crossing and they were bypassing the railing because it was not long enough. And when the school brought this up to LTA, LTA extended the railing so that the children had to use the crossing. In this way, LTA will work with schools to help schools ensure safety. So if any school were to request LTA to restrict part of the road so that cars do not stop there, LTA will put up signs, if it is possible, to ensure that no car stops there and that children do not alight. But we have to work with the principals of the schools so that we have a practical solution on safety in schools.

Mdm Cynthia Phua: Can the Minister

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of State explain how he works with MOE on the alighting and boarding points for schools? Is it only after an accident or after the school is built? Is it only feasible for alighting and boarding points at the planning stage? Since there is no requirement for schools to submit plans to the Ministry of Transport for the alighting and boarding points for school students, how does MOT work with MOE on such provision?

Dr Balaji Sadasivan: Sir, as I said, there are many factors that involve safety at schools with regard to students alighting from their cars. School principals are in the best position to know what is practical, what do parents want and what is needed for the school. LTA will consider all requests in changing the traffic around the schools as well as putting up signs to prevent cars from stopping if the principal, or the school, or MOE, requests for it.

Mdm Cynthia Phua: Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister of State explain why is there no such guideline by MOT about alighting and boarding points for school students, whether it is within the school or outside the school on the public road. Does the Minister of State agree that it is very dangerous for young children to board and alight school buses on a public road, especially when the young ones are fighting with each other while going up or down the buses?

Dr Balaji Sadasivan: Mr Speaker, Sir, if the school requests that a "No Stopping" sign be placed in front of the school, so that no cars can stop in front of the school and children do not alight, that can be done. But we will do it if the school requests for it.

Mdm Cynthia Phua: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is a daily affair that many parents send their children to school. They need to alight their children at the school. So why is there no such guideline and provision by

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either the Ministry of Education, or Ministry of Transport, for such a provision as basic as this facility to ensure that the safety of the children is taken care of?

Mr Speaker: Dr Balaji, would you like to answer that?

Dr Balaji Sadasivan: Mr Speaker, I think she has asked that question before and I have said that school principals know best what is practical around their schools. Any request that they make, we will consider.

Dr Warren Lee (Sembawang): Mr Speaker, Sir, it is repeatedly mentioned that if any school principal were to ask for arrangement to be made for "No Stopping" signs, this would be looked into. I have a similar problem in my constituency and the grassroots leaders and advisors have repeatedly written in to ask if something could be done, but apparently zigzag lines, and all that, could not be done. We face a lot of difficulties. Could the views of grassroots leaders and advisors also be considered?

Dr Balaji Sadasivan: I hope the grassroots leaders and the Member of Parliament have brought this up with the school and reached a consensus on the issue with the school principal and teachers and they could then bring the matter up with LTA. It would be easier for us to come up with a solution.