| I AM saddened to read about young Russell Koh, who died after he was flung out of the minibus he was in on Thursday when it collided with two cars, in Saturday's front-page report ('Minibus crash').
My daughter was hurt in a school bus incident some 10 years ago. She was flung out of her seat and slammed her face into a metal bar behind the bus driver's seat when the driver braked suddenly after speeding. She lost her new front tooth. She was then nine years old.
What followed was an uphill task when I tried to seek redress:
The Traffic Police did not let me file a report against the bus driver for reckless driving because the officer said I had to produce a medical certificate of at least three days. This was despite my explanation that the dental surgeon issued an MC for two days because the next day was Children's Day followed by a weekend.
I had no choice but to file a written complaint to the next level of authority, the Land Transport Authority (LTA). I copied the letter to the Singapore School Transport Association and my daughter's school principal highlighting the incident, the driver's reckless driving and the need for greater safety for children taking school buses.
The association was lukewarm to my complaint.
The school principal was a disappointment. She viewed the matter as something the parent should resolve directly with the school bus operator, even though the operator was contracted by the school to provide the service.
Some parents were also dissatisfied with the performance of the bus driver who often sped to school to drop off the children so he could use the bus to fetch adults to work. I tried to find an alternative bus and driver but when I did, he refused to take my daughter. He said he might get into trouble as bus operators worked in groups and protected each other's turf.
Thanks to the LTA, the bus driver was summoned, reprimanded and warned. He installed seat belts on the bus.
In light of Thursday's fatal accident, I hope the authorities will address the issue of belting up children ferried by buses. It should be done at least for those in primary school as they tend to be more playful.
Lee Pai Ping (Ms) |
