MCW soliciting a community response to school bus safety
- Friday, March 26th, 2010 at 11:25 AM
By GIS
Friday, March 26 – The Ministry of Communications and Works is soliciting the involvement of the community to ensure that the Territory’s students are safe en route to and from school.
School administrators and parents are being encouraged to ensure that the persons responsible for transporting children to school are in compliance with the law.
Currently the ministry is putting measures in place to ensure that school busses are clearly identified. The Road Traffic Taxi Cab Regulations of 1993 mandates that motor vehicles used for transporting school children shall carry on the front and rear of the vehicle, a sign approved by the Chief Licensing Officer, not being less than 18 inches in diameter and clearly and visibly displaying the words “School Bus” in red letters on a white background.
“This law has been on the books since 1993 and has evidently not been enforced, and this certainly cannot continue to prevail. School bus operators are therefore urged to ensure that they are in compliance with the law,” Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Julian Fraser, RA told the Department of Information and Public Relations.
“As we strive to promote driver safety in compliance with the road traffic legislations of the country, the ministry is also asking motorists to come to a complete stop and avoid passing a clearly identified school bus that is stopping for children,” Minister Fraser continued.
“We cannot continue to place our children in danger by this action, therefore we are seeking the assistance of the community to reduce this risk by stopping when a school bus stops and refrain from passing the school bus when it is picking up or dropping off children,” the minister concluded.
School Bus operators are hereby warned of the consequences for failure to comply with the Road Traffic Cab Regulations of 1993. The ministry continues to promote driver safety in compliance with the road traffic legislations of the Territory.
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I can think of a few more critical areas that necessitates thoughtful consideration for the safety and well-being of our school children:-
1) the Screening of the bus drivers. We need to fully screen these individuals specifically for sexual crimes, DUI or traffic violations, notably reckless driving. If in violation, they need to be isolated, flagged and not be permitted to transport our children.
2) Driver’s should at all times wear name badges with the respective association/agents name, if any and expiration date which should be clearly visible and current. Having some sort of certification authenticating their merit of approval would be even beneficial. I have heard of cases where people (relative & friend) have substituted and was not even a licensed /certified ‘school bus’ driver.
3) There should be a Code of Ethics – Bus rules, regulations and guidelines should be in place and each parent/guardian should be given a copy in order that they can notify their kids according.
Lastly, 4) Signed agreement/contract – I feel that the bus driver or his/her management, association/agent and the parent should enter into a signed agreement and/or contract. Further, since this is a program partially contracted/funded by government, they should ensure that the program meets the industry safety and service standards and that all parties are in line with their respective duties/responsibilities.
Finally, have any consideration gone into the safety of the open buses “Safari” buses? I personally feel that safaris are not the safest form of transportation for our school children – I have personally witnessed kids’ feet swaying outside and others standing while the bus was in motion. I have also witnessed buses loaded with kids accelerating at speeds that are so inappropriate and undoubtedly unsafe not only to them but for other drivers and pedestrians. Are any of these buses really suited to be called a ‘school bus’? I guess my question would be what are the requirements to be classified as a certified bus driver and more so, the type of vehicle to be used for this purpose? These are just some of my concerns and suggestions not only as a driver (not bus driver) but of a parent who maybe considering the bus program this upcoming school year.
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