BUS CAPTAINS
The BC Drive Safe refresher programme was launched by the Singapore Bus Academy in August 2022.
The one-day course aims to reinforce safe driving culture and equip bus captains with the “correct attitude” to deal with other road users and potentially hazardous traffic situations.
In March, the task force recommended that the academy should offer more runs of the programme so that more bus captains can attend.
LTA said on Saturday that the refresher programme will be increased from three to five sessions a week by the end of this year.
A standardised industry-wide training points system will be introduced by the end of 2026 to ensure bus captains receive a “minimum amount of training every year”.
“Additionally, to recognise consistent safe driving practices/records by bus captains, LTA is working with public transport operators to introduce a tiered safe driving incentive in 2026,” it added.
LTA and public transport operations have started extending the minimum duration of bus captains’ meal breaks to 30 minutes. This will be progressively extended to the entire bus captain workforce “in the next few years”, said LTA.
Mr Murali also noted that newly introduced bus services’ maximum run-times have been limited to two hours or less.
“This is welcomed by our bus captains as it directly addresses their concerns. This would reduce the periods of continuous driving.
“Existing bus routes that have a runtime of over two hours are being reviewed and adjusted where practicable,” he said.
In response to CNA’s queries, LTA said it is reviewing 54 bus services with run-times of over two hours.
These services include 178 between Woodlands and Boon Lay interchanges, 197 between Bedok and Jurong East interchanges and 966 that starts and ends at Woodlands Interchange.
