Transport Ministry Tightens Standards for School Buses Ahead of New Term, Pushes Student Safety as National Priority
Thailand's Transport Ministry is tightening school bus safety standards to international levels ahead of the new academic term, with mandatory brake inspections and a new database to track all vehicles in operation.
On May 15, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkoskulkiat chaired a meeting to drive forward the policy for upgrading school bus safety standards to international levels. The meeting included the Director-General of the Department of Land Transport Sarapong Paiturpong and representatives from relevant agencies including the Ministry of Education, Office of the Basic Education Commission, Department of Local Administration, National Police Office, Consumer Protection Committee, Consumer Organizations Council, and road safety experts.
Deputy Minister Siripong stated that this meeting is part of implementing the government's policy to elevate school buses to international standards. The government prioritizes the welfare and safety of children and youth who will become the nation's future workforce. The objective is to integrate all school buses operating outside the regulatory system into proper oversight processes so that every vehicle meets safety standards prescribed by law. Lessons from past incidents will be analyzed to strengthen preventive measures.
Implementing school bus safety measures is not solely the responsibility of the Transport Ministry but requires cooperation and integration across relevant agencies. The Ministry of Education, through schools and educational institutions, must play a role in ensuring safe and convenient student transportation. The Ministry of Interior, through its Department of Local Administration, will drive area-level integration efforts and emphasize that local authorities must prioritize school bus services, particularly for disadvantaged children.
The Transport Ministry has been continuously working to upgrade school bus safety standards. The Department of Land Transport coordinated with the Ministry of Education to create a school bus database through schoolbussafety.dlt.go.th. To prepare for the new academic term, provincial transport offices have been instructed to coordinate with schools to inspect the braking systems of all school buses, as brake failure has been a major cause of recent accidents. Buses that fail inspection must be repaired before being used for student transportation.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that school bus safety is a complex issue involving multiple agencies and requires ongoing coordination.
