All school buses fitted with seat belts following rule change

SINGAPORE — The retrofitting of all school buses with seat belts has been completed and, of the approximately 5,000 small buses not used to transport schoolchildren, more than 80 per cent have undergone the exercise. The remaining buses have until Dec 31 to do so.

Providing an update in response to TODAY’s queries, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said since 2009, owners of small buses have received S$22 million in financial assistance from the Government to help defray the cost of retrofitting seat belts in their vehicles.

A sum of S$35 million had been set aside for the exercise.

The requirement of all small buses to have seat belts was implemented in April 2009 following the 2008 death of an eight-year-old boy who was flung out of his school bus.

On Tuesday, a bus carrying nine kindergarten pupils crashed into a road barrier along Pei Wah Avenue. The children on board escaped without serious injuries as they were wearing seat belts.

The LTA said it had appointed workshops to undertake the retrofitting of seat belts and authorised vehicle inspection centres to check for compliance with requirements.

During the retrofitting, floorboards were also strengthened where necessary to ensure that the seat belts would be effective in the event of an accident. To minimise disruption to businesses, the workshops provided replacement buses when it was feasible.

Drivers and attendants of small school buses have to ensure their passengers are properly secured with the appropriate child restraints or seat belts. Drivers who fail to do so will be liable to a fine and demerit points.

Singapore School Transport Association Chairman Wong Ann Lin said: “It is challenging to ensure all the children stay belted-up throughout the journey, especially when the drivers have to keep an eye on the roads.”