LettersHong Kong school buses must have seat belts, transport officials need to rethink ‘safer seats’ policy
- The Transport Department’s decision to solely rely on the design of so-called ‘safer seats’ to protect schoolchildren in the event of a collision must be reviewed
David Passow last week (“Buses without seat belts must come off road”, December 19) and other correspondents over the years have asked: why can’t there be seat belts on all buses, especially those that ferry children?
In a letter issued this year to schools, the department said: “Safer seats are strong and closely spaced, with high and energy-absorbing backs, which can reduce the risk of students being thrown out of their seats and reduce the degree of injury in case of collisions. Overseas research proves that the use
of safer seats is effective in protecting students on student service vehicles. Compared with seat belts, safer seats offer protection to passengers without requiring any action, thus they are suitable to be used on student service vehicles.”
However, the department still allows three young children to sit on two seats: the middle child has no protection. In effect, the department gave up on educating students to use seat belts.
Despite backing the use of safer seats, the department nonetheless did not follow up with the other requirements that went with safer seats: enhanced structural strengthening of school buses, driver assessments, and random drug and alcohol testing. And why install a hard plastic handhold on the rear of the seat, as it negates the energy-absorbing material?