The House Transportation Committee once again examined the issues of bus safety and suitability, as well as the rising incidents of misconduct and vandalism on school bus routes.
The discussion was prompted by the Audit Office’s alarming findings regarding the condition of buses and roadworthiness inspections, as well as in anticipation of the start of the new school year.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
According to remarks made by DISY MP and member of the Transport Committee, Giorgos Karaiskakis, on the “Alpha Kalimera” program, during yesterday’s session, pressure was exerted on the Department of Road Transport (DORT) to provide the necessary assurances that the school year would begin without any problems.
40 buses were deemed unfit
Mr. Karaiskakis reported that, following inspections, 40 buses were deemed unfit for service and were taken out of service. In total, he noted, approximately 800 buses are available for student transportation, while there are also about 160 on standby.
At the same time, TOM has requested that private companies providing student transportation submit the necessary documents, including the quarterly MOT, certificates of roadworthiness, and vehicle insurance policies, so that the final inspection can be completed and they can operate normally starting Monday.
There were reports of buses which, according to the findings, had not undergone the required inspections, while in some cases newer vehicles were allegedly used for the inspection instead of older ones.
At the same time, the issue of roadworthiness certificates issued by private engineers was highlighted, even though the same vehicles had been deemed unfit for the road by government inspections.
The findings also included serious cases related to the condition of the vehicles, such as problems with tires, incidents of fire in bus engines, and other technical malfunctions.
760 buses meet safety requirements
For his part, Mr. Adamos Aspris, a member of the Transportation Committee, discussed the preparations for the start of the school year. As he noted, of the approximately 800 buses inspected, 760 have obtained a certificate of roadworthiness and meet safety requirements.
Mr. Aspris described as positive the fact that both the relevant departments of the Ministry of Transportation and the bus companies followed the procedure during the months of July and August, in order to be ready for the start of the school year. At the same time, incidents of misconduct on buses are a cause for particular concern.
As Mr. Aspris reported, the Committee documented specific incidents, including the throwing of firecrackers inside a vehicle, the theft of equipment from inside buses, and the use of a fire extinguisher inside a bus—an incident that caused the driver to faint.
“These incidents are unacceptable,” he said, while also noting as a positive step the Parents’ Confederation’s initiative to acknowledge the problem and work toward informing and raising awareness among parents.
He emphasized the need to create a specific standard operating procedure (SOP) so that all stakeholders know exactly what steps to take in the event of disruptive behavior.
“It’s truly a shame that while there are technical safeguards in place to ensure safety, at the end of the day, the danger stems from disruptive behavior,” he noted.
Student Tried to Hit Driver with an Air Gun
“Yesterday we heard about unprecedented incidents, and the worst thing we heard was that a student tried to shoot a driver with an air gun. It was an incident that shook us,” he said.
Mr. Karaiskakis clarified that yesterday’s meeting focused primarily on mechanical and technical issues regarding the buses.
A new meeting of the Committee is expected to be held to address issues of violations and potential penalties.
Banning violators and installing cameras on buses
Regarding the measures that could be taken, Mr. Karaiskakis noted that some possible proposals include barring students from riding buses, as well as installing closed-circuit surveillance cameras inside and outside the buses.
“If legislation needs to be enacted, rest assured that we will do so to ensure the safe transportation of the other students, not all of whom are rule-breakers,” he said.
