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Safety concerns, high bus fees and heavy school bags among reasons cited by parents for driving children to school

File photo of primary school students.

File photo of primary school students.

SINGAPORE — Safety concerns, high school bus fares and heavy school bags were among some of the reasons cited by parents here for choosing to brave traffic congestion and drive their children to school instead of letting them take the school bus, public transport or walk there instead.

Parents whom TODAY spoke to on Sunday (Jan 16) added that driving their children to school also allowed their kids more time to sleep in and gave parents precious time to bond with their children.

The situation of long car queues and traffic congestion outside the gates of many schools has come under the spotlight after a Bentley car was caught on video inching towards a security guard outside Red Swastika School in Bedok North last Tuesday.

SAFETY CONCERNS

One parent said that she “does not trust drivers in the morning” and was worried for her children’s safety when they cross the roads or take public transport.

HEAVY SCHOOL BAGS

Another parent recalled how his youngest son had toppled out of the car while attempting to alight due to the sheer weight of his school bag.

SCHOOL BUS FEES 'TOO HIGH'

A parent said that school bus fees for his two primary school children are also “very high” despite living within 1km and 1.5km of their schools. This is partly why he chooses to drive them to their schools in the mornings.

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