Overview of Fatalities

In a concerning revelation, five commuters tragically lost their lives while aboard public buses in Singapore over the past decade. Among these fatalities, four involved elderly passengers who fell due to loss of balance, highlighting a significant issue in bus safety. Minister of State for Transport, Murali Pillai, addressed this issue during a recent parliamentary session.

Recent Incident

The alarming statistics come in the wake of a tragic incident that occurred on March 12, when an 80-year-old man fell while attempting to alight from an SBS Transit bus. He lost his footing after standing up from his seat and fell before he could grasp a support pole. This event has reignited discussions on the safety measures in place for vulnerable commuters, particularly the elderly.

Response from Authorities

During his speech, Murali emphasized that while the fatalities are deeply unfortunate, the overall safety record of public buses remains stable. In Singapore, approximately four million bus trips are completed daily, with the vast majority ending without incident.

Responding to inquiries from MP Saktiandi Supaat, who raised concerns about the safety of seniors using public transport, Murali noted the continuous efforts of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to work with bus operators like SBS Transit, SMRT, Tower Transit, and Go-Ahead Singapore to enhance safety features on buses. Key improvements include designated priority seating, non-slip flooring, bus kneeling capabilities to aid boarding, and grab bars for stability.

Safety Enhancements

The bus kneeling function specifically makes it easier for those with mobility challenges to access public transport. Additionally, bus drivers are trained to prioritize the safety of elderly passengers, ensuring they are seated before departing and minimizing sudden stops or starts.

Public education campaigns have also been initiated to encourage safe commuting habits, such as using handrails and taking care of fellow passengers, especially the elderly. Despite these efforts, a report released on March 5 indicated there were 185 serious bus collisions last year, a slight decrease from previous years, but still a cause for concern.

Ongoing Safety Initiatives

In light of these findings, the government is actively pursuing recommendations from a task force focused on improving bus safety. These include the implementation of audible alerts to notify passengers when the bus is about to move and modifications to reduce sharp accelerations that may lead passengers to lose balance.

Furthermore, more advanced safety technologies are set to be integrated into the public bus fleet. A proposed 360-degree collision detection system using artificial intelligence aims to eliminate current blind spots, potentially preventing accidents before they happen.

Aging Population Concerns

As Singapore’s population ages, MP Saktiandi highlighted the increasing necessity for more priority seating and stability features such as guardrails on buses to accommodate seniors. He also questioned whether the recent fatality would accelerate the implementation of the task force's safety recommendations.

Future Plans

Minister Murali confirmed that the Transport Ministry is collaborating with bus operators to start rolling out these enhancements progressively from the second half of 2025, with further details expected to be announced soon.

Conclusion

The tragic losses of these five passengers underscore a growing need for continuous improvement in public transportation safety, particularly for the vulnerable elderly population, as they navigate the bustling streets of Singapore.