Written Reply by Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan to Parliamentary Question on Public Bus Safety for Senior Citizens

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Transport 

a.     in the past three years, how many cases have been reported of senior citizens who have fallen and got injured while taking public buses; and

b.     what are the measures taken to prevent such incidents so as to ensure safe travel for senior citizens on public buses.

Reply by Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan:

1.     There are about 50 incidents each year of senior citizens who were injured after losing their balance on public buses.  The majority of these incidents happened when the buses moved off from a stationary position or stopped abruptly to avoid vehicles cutting in. To reduce such incidents, bus operators are installing telematics systems which enable bus captains to review and improve their driving patterns, such as minimising sudden movements. To date, about 70% of public buses are equipped with telematics systems. However, it is not possible to eliminate all abrupt movements by buses. For example, bus captains may have to apply emergency brakes to respond to unanticipated traffic incidents. To enhance safety for senior citizens, we will continue to encourage younger commuters to give up their seats to them.