The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has introduced new proposals aimed at enhancing the safety of children as they board and alight from school buses.
Among the key measures, NTSA plans to deploy crossing guards at specific locations to manage and control traffic where students enter or exit schools or use designated pedestrian crossings. These guards will ensure a safer environment for children during these critical times.
Additionally, the NTSA suggests the inclusion of vehicle attendants in school buses to assist students as they board and disembark, further enhancing safety measures.
“Pick-up and drop-off times within school zones are particularly hazardous for children, and necessary steps must be taken to protect them,” NTSA stated on Wednesday.
Another proposal includes equipping school buses longer than 30 feet with a reflectorized red ‘stop signal arm’ at the front and rear. This arm will extend outward to signal other motorists to stop while students are boarding or alighting.
“Drivers will be required to stop until the arm retracts and the warning lights stop flashing,” NTSA emphasized.
The Draft Traffic (School Transport) Rules 2024, proposed by NTSA, also stipulate that failure to stop for a school bus would be considered an offense. Offenders, upon conviction, could face a minimum suspension of their driving licenses for six months.