JUBAIL — Parents have called for more measures to improve road safety in the wake of a tragic school bus accident in Jubail last Wednesday that claimed the lives of six students. The bus, transporting children from a major school in the city, was hit by a speeding Land Cruiser. The driver of the Land Cruiser was said to be a young man whose identity was not revealed. One Pakistani mother said: “I live in an apartment and I come down every day to make sure that my children get proper seats in the contractor's big bus. “Though I do not have any complaint regarding the speed the vehicle travels at, my concern is that my children sit very near the door. “The bus has plenty of students and there is little space. “What if God forbid the door is not properly locked? “We have complained many times but the school says it has a contract with the transportation company and cannot be responsible for any negligence.” One school administrator said they have set criteria for hiring bus drivers or contractors to make sure that their students are safe. Khawaja, a parent, said: “My daughters are young and I want a driver who is trustworthy. The one who is driving them to school is a very decent man but he does not remind them to wear seat belts.” Taxi drivers drive fast and cram in too many students, meaning there are not enough seat belts available, said another parent, Maqbool. His three sons are picked up by a contractor's minibus every morning at seven. Since more schools are located in Al-Khobar, hundreds of children commute everyday on the Dammam-Al-Khobar highway where the speed limit is 120 km. However, during school hours more people are on the road trying to reach the school on time. Most of them ignore signals, change lanes, overtake and speed. Manzoor, a Pakistani driver, said not everyone can be a commercial driver. He said: “The procedure to get a commercial license in the Kingdom is quite tough, as not everyone can do this job. “You have to be alert and responsible every minute. Parents entrust you with their children and you cannot be negligent.” He has been driving a contractor's school bus for more than 11 years but two years ago he was hit by a speeding car near Silver Tower in Al-Khobar. “Most of the time it is juvenile drivers who are in the driver's seat and driving at high speed.” Though there are speed cameras all over the major roads, parents believe more speed limit signs should be placed on streets and roads. There should be driving schools where teenagers aged 16 to 18 are given regular behind-the-wheel lessons before they are given a driving license, parents said, adding that one or two tests are not enough. They said there should be driving schools, like in other developed countries. Sixteen-year-olds should drive under adult supervision and complete 50 to 60 hours of safe driving before they are issued licenses. They also believed there should be a bus monitor on every school bus to ensure that every student is picked up and dropped off at his or her doorstep. It would also be the responsibility of the bus monitor to watch the vehicle's speed, maintain discipline among children and ensure everyone wears a seat belt, parents said. Apart from school bus drivers, parents believed every citizen and expatriate living in Saudi Arabia had a moral responsibility to follow the speed limit signs on roads.
