SEVERAL school bus operators will be increasing their fees by 10
per cent to 20 per cent when the new school term starts in
January.
Parents will pay between $4.50 and $20 more a month. Current
monthly rates range from $45 to $100, depending on the distance to
the schools.
Operators said they were raising fares to offset losses from
having fewer students on board once they install seat belts.
A new rule to improve bus safety was implemented in April,
requiring new small buses to have seat belts, while existing small
school buses must do so by 2011.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that out of the 1,200
small buses that ferry children, seat belts have been fitted in 955
vehicles.
These buses, which could carry about 15 students before, can
take only 10 students with the seat belts fitted.
