Singapore School Buses Now Much Safer
After Years of Delay Children's Lives Will Now be Saved
May 27, 2009
It started with the death of Russell Koh last April when he was flung out the back of a bus during a collision. One year later, a new law will now help prevent similar deaths from occurring. However, the idea of this law originated years ago.
The Debate for Seat Belt Installation
The Singapore Parliament had been debating the subject of seat belts since 2005 as seen in the Parliamentary Debates. They continued the debate three years ago when eight children were injured in another bus accident, according to Nur Dianah Suhaimi in the May 4, 2008 Sunday Times article "MPs to Push for New Law on Seat Belts in School Buses." The main concern of some Parliament members was the raising of fares and the lowering of seat capacity.
In 2006, Parliament seemed to be happy with the safety standards taken, since no death had yet to occur. When Associate Professor Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Transport to equipped all school buses with seat belts, the response included a list of safety measures already taken. This list included mandatory speed limits, licensed attendants on buses and the installation of automatic hazard lights.
"As a result of these safety requirements, there have been no cases of children suffering serious or fatal injuries while traveling on a school bus over the past six years," answered the Minister for Transport in "Parliament Questions & Answers- 28th Feb 2006." In this same answer, the Minister did ask the LTA to review the need of seat belts on buses. However, members were asked to consider the law carefully "in view of the cost impact on parents using such bus services."
LTA Study
The LTA hired consultants and safety experts from Washington, D.C. to conduct the study. "Findings from the Consultant showed that small buses pose the most bus safety challenge in Singapore . . . . recommended, inter alia, that all passenger seats be required to have integral three-point seat belts with retractors and be forward-facing," according to an article by WWLegal.com News.
Financial Assistance to Bus Owners
To eliminate the concern over cost impact, the decision was made by the government to offer financial assistance to existing small bus owners. The financial assistance will either go towards the installation of the three-point seat belts or to the purchase of a new bus. Additional assistance will be given to those buses that require booster seats for children below the age of eight. Please see WWLegal.com News article in the link provided above.
Around the world, safety measure are not always taken seriously until a death occurs. It is too late to save Russell Koh's life, but many lives will be saved if children do buckle-up. According to the WWLegal.com News article, the LTA is working with the Ministry of Education, schools, and the Traffic Police to ensure enforcement and educate children on the necessity of using seat belts. See related article entitled "Child Restraint Law Ignored in Singapore."
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