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SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Transport is considering implementing seat belts on school buses, following the death of an eight-year-old boy, who was thrown out of his school van in a recent traffic accident.
The ministry is now gathering feedback from various parties before deciding whether to make seat belts on school buses mandatory.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Transport Teo Ser Luck said: "Right now, LTA (Land Transport Authority) is studying the effects of seat belts, the implementation of having seat belts on school buses. What types of seat belts - whether it's two-point seat belts or three-point seat belts?"
"We also need the feedback from the school bus association, the parents and also the school bus company owners. We need their feedback, because even if you implement it, there's also a possibility of cost increase, and how will that be handled - will that be co-shared, or solely by the bus owners?" he added.
Mr Teo said LTA is working with different experts to come up with a feasibility study.
Although no time frame is set, he hopes a resolution will be achieved soon.
In the meantime, public education will be stepped up to raise awareness on belting up children in vehicles.
Many MPs also support having seat belts on school buses.
Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Penny Low said: "At the school level, it's good for schools to remind the children to belt up. (At) the community level, I think in most of our events, we will also take the opportunity to remind parents and children to do the right thing - to belt up."
MP for Bukit Panjang Dr Teo Ho Pin agreed: "I'm definitely in for (the) safety of the children by saying that we should have seat belts in school buses." - CNA/ac
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