Monday, November 17, 2008

Schoolbus seatbelts will take time to fit

THE three-year deadline given for schoolbuses to be fitted with seatbelts is partly because the safety feature can be added only during the school holidays.

Also, vehicle workshops have limited capacity, said Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Senior Minister of State for Transport.

She gave these two reasons when answering Dr Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade GRC), who had asked why the deadline was so far away - in 2011.

Parents and MPs had called for seatbelts on these buses earlier this year when a Primary Two pupil died after being flung out of his schoolbus during a collision.

The Land Transport Authority implemented the new rule within six months.

The new rule also means buses can no longer have three children sitting on a bench seat typically occupied by two adults.

As a result, new transport arrangements have to be made for the 'displaced' pupils. Again, schools and bus operators need time to carry this out, noted Mrs Lim.

She also said that with schoolbuses getting priority, the seatbelt deadline for other small buses is five years.

Big buses do not require seatbelts.

No comments:

Earn $$ with WidgetBucks!