Debated in Parliament on 8 Jan 2025.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Transport (a) how many complaints about aggressive or jerky bus driving have been received by LTA and public transport operators in the past year; (b) how does LTA monitor and assess the prevalence of such behaviours; (c) what factors contribute to such driving behaviours including bus schedules and driver demographics; and (d) what measures are in place to reduce such driving behaviours to improve commuter safety and comfort.
Bus operators are required to submit details of public feedback received to the Land Transport Authority every month. In the first 11 months of 2024, out of close to four million daily bus trips by commuters, there was an average of around 10 pieces of public feedback per day relating to the driving behaviour of bus captains (BCs), including feedback on jerky driving. Based on investigations, the majority of such feedback were attributed to BCs reacting to other roads users, for example, BCs had to suddenly apply the brakes when other vehicles cut into the path of their buses.
Bus operators regularly review the runtime of buses to allow BCs to keep to their schedule, while driving safely at a reasonable speed and within speed limits. BCs are not asked to speed up in order to regulate the intervals between buses. All newly-licensed BCs undergo a five-day Enhanced Vocational Licence Training Programme, which includes a module on safe driving techniques, followed by an additional five to six weeks of on-the-road training before they are deployed to drive public buses. BCs also attend regular safety briefings and go through refresher courses on safe driving techniques, such as the BC Drive Safe course, which incorporate techniques on smooth driving.
Bus operators have also equipped their vehicles with telematics systems to monitor driving behaviour. BCs with good driving behaviour will be rewarded with additional incentives, while BCs with persistent driving issues will be sent for additional training and may be subject to disciplinary action.
The Bus Safety Tripartite Taskforce was formed on 1 July 2024 to review how road safety may be enhanced for bus commuters, BCs and other road users in their interactions with public buses. One area that the Taskforce is looking into is how we can further enhance the situational awareness of BCs in their interactions with other motorists. The Taskforce aims to complete its review by the first half of 2025.
PAPERCUTS