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Looming Threat

of School Bus

Parents raise concern over students’ safety
as safety belts are not equipped in all school buses

By Alice Wang and Kelly Chen

he says. “It is better for the new batch of the Federation of Parent-Teacher Are seatbelts necessary?
of buses now as they usually come Association in Tai Po says otherwise. Despite a growing interest calling
with safety belts. However, it can cost Ho believes the attendants and drivers for safety belt installation on school
up to HK$300,000 to install safety have the responsibility to ask students buses, there has been a long-running
belts for the old-modelled ones.” Lam to fasten their safety belts. “They are debate over whether school buses are
adds that most companies tend to responsible for looking after the chil- safer with safety belts. Lo Kok-keung,
phase out the old models, instead of dren during the ride. They need to a veteran mechanical engineer, be-
investing a hefty sum for new instal- have the safety awareness to take care lieves ordinary safety belt is not nec-
lation. of the children.” essarily the best protection for chil-
Even if old coaches are replaced He adds that many kindergarten dren because it is usually measured at
that safety belts are available, Lam school instructors would now act adult’s size.
says it remains unclear who should as escorts to take care of the chil- “A three to four-year-old kid can
take up the legal responsibility for not dren during the ride easily pull their neck if he or she is
fastening the safety belts. for that they know wearing an adult’s seatbelt and the
“Should the responsibility to fas- better about the waist part (of the seatbelt) will be too
ten safety belts be held by the passen- children, “These loose for them, thus having limited ef-
gers, the drivers or the attendants?” instructors would fectiveness to keep them safe,” he says.
Lam questions. “If the onus lies on act as attendants However, Lo thinks safety belts are
the drivers and attendants, their re- to accompany the essential to keep the passengers intact
sponsibility would be huge because children along the during an accident. “The ride is only
they have to look after all children,” he bus ride. Discipline of Ho Chu-ping safe when one is wearing a seatbelt.
adds. “But you cannot keep your eyes the children becomes You can always keep the children
on them all the time.” better, but school bus fee will definite- protected when a seatbelt is fastened.
However, Ho Chu-ping, president ly go up.” In case of any car accidents, the kids