The perennial problem of overcrowded school buses continues to be an issue in the Upper Clutha.

There were reports at the beginning of this school year of children on a bus route to Te Kura o Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) being told to sit on the floor of the bus when there were no more seats.

“We are aware that some buses are crowded and we have been in contact with Go Bus about the matter,” MAC principal Nicola Jacobsen told the Wānaka App.

“Go Bus is working with their bus drivers to manage the situation and ensure the health and safety of students.”

The problem of crowded school buses has been a local issue for years, despite Ministry of Education’s education infrastructure service head Kim Shannon telling the Wānaka App in 2019 the ministry expected “all students on school transport services will be seated from the start of 2021”.

Go deeper: School bus ‘no standing’ policy still not resolved

Ministry of Education school transport group manager James Meffan told the Wānaka App this month the ministry “promptly investigate[s] all safety concerns raised with us and audit[s] our transport service providers to make sure they comply with all applicable safety requirements”.

“We were not aware of students being told to sit on the floor of their Wānaka school bus service so have reiterated to the transport service provider that students are not to sit on the floor and instead must stand and hold on to the safety handles if there are no available seats.”

James said the ministry’s transport service providers must not exceed the loading limit specified in a vehicle’s Certificate of Loading. 

Waka Kotahi is responsible for setting loading limits, including the number of standing passengers allowed. James said the ministry has been assured that as long as the Certificate of Loading is observed then it is safe to transport children who are standing on a school bus.

“Our providers are able to carry standing passengers to allow for a necessary degree of operational flexibility to manage fluctuating demand and to ensure that no eligible student is left behind.

“They are required to regularly report on any standing passengers so we can monitor and manage the situation if the number of students using the school bus services increases above what is expected”. 

James said the country’s school transport services carry around 100,000 students daily and it has an excellent safety record. 

The speed limit for school buses is 80kph.

PHOTO: Wānaka App