CRI听力:School Bus Regulation Attract Suggestions, Parents Expect Implementation

Professor Wang Jingbo from the China University of Political Science and Law was invited to make suggestions regarding the draft. She says the highlight of the regulation is that it grants traffic priority to school buses.

"The legislative idea of granting priority to school buses reflects two choices that the government has made. One is giving priority to education. School buses are public transportation with an education function. The purpose of school buses is to ensure students' right to education. The second is giving priority to children."

The draft regulation asks local governments to ensure that students attend nearby schools or boarding schools so as to "reduce traffic risks." For rural areas that cannot ensure nearby schooling or convenient public transport to schools, measures should be imposed to ensure students' access to school buses.

A string of school bus accidents occurred in China last year, prompting the government to introduce new safety standards and regulations.

The most serious accident killed 21 students last November in a head-on collision in northwest China's Gansu Province. The nine-seat minivan was reportedly crammed with 64 preschool kids.

The latest accident occurred earlier this week, when an overloaded van overturned in north China's Hebei Province, killing three children and leaving another two injured.

The illegal operation of buses is the main cause of accidents. Professor Wang Jingbo explains why there's been a huge demand for school buses, especially in rural areas.

"Nearby schooling is not difficult in cities. But the rural population has been shrinking due to urbanization and economic development. The government thus merged many village schools, and that caused transportation demand."

The regulation draft stipulates that local governments above the county level are responsible for school bus safety management in their jurisdiction. And the central departments are obliged to "guide and supervise" school bus safety.

The regulation specifies stricter requirements for the condition of school buses and bus drivers' qualifications. It also imposes limitations on the buses' maximum speed and load.

But it did not mention financial subsidies for school buses. Professor Zhou Hongyu from Huazhong Normal University has been researching school bus regulations for years.

"The government should provide financial subsidies for public schools to buy school buses and issue favorable policies to lower the cost for private schools to buy and operate school buses."

A parent in south China's Guangdong Province shares their concerns.

"The policy is good, but we are concerned with whether it will be properly carried out."

The State Council says it will adopt the regulation for implementation after further revision.

For CRI, this is Ding Lulu.