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SINGAPORE: The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) said on Wednesday (October 28) that it suspended one of its bus drivers from his driving duties after a collision with a motorcyclist in state courts.
Road safety measures at the site have also been improved, SPS and state courts told CNA.
The accident on September 24 took place at the entrance to the state courts. The bus driver had entered the driveway from the exit lane rather than the entry lane to access a safe parking spot. At the same time, a motorcyclist was turning from the basement parking lot into the exit lane.
“Both the SPS bus driver and the motorcyclist were unable to stop in time, resulting in the collision,” SPS and state courts said in separate responses to the CNA’s questions.
The motorcyclist, a 31-year-old woman, was conscious when she was taken to the hospital and was discharged after treatment.
Police investigations are ongoing.
PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT
Photos of the accident released by The Online Citizen last week showed the prison bus looking in the opposite direction in the exit lane of the entrance.
“Due to the length of the vehicles and the tight turning radius, arrangements were made with the State Courts for SPS buses to use the exit lane when accessing the safe drop off point,” SPS said.
The state courts said it is an interim arrangement while the new family justice court building is being built on the site of the old state court building.
“When construction is complete, the entry and exit points for security vehicles will be relocated,” he said.
An SPS officer is deployed in the area to direct traffic when SPS buses have to use the exit lane. At the time of the accident, however, the officer was “busy supervising the disembarkation of persons in custody” from another bus at the drop-off point, SPS said.
“However, the driver of the SPS bus involved in the accident proceeded to drive toward the drop point and at the same time, a motorcyclist exited the restricted basement parking lot and was turning into the same exit lane,” SPS said.
After the accident, the driver got off the bus to check on the motorcyclist. A state court security officer stationed nearby called for an ambulance and the police.
“SPS attaches a high level of importance to safety in the workplace, both inside and outside SPS facilities,” the prison service said, adding that the bus driver has since been suspended from his driving duties. , pending investigations.
IMPROVED SECURITY MEASURES
After the incident, additional safety protocols were put in place to prevent a similar accident from happening, state courts said.
This includes placing an additional officer in the area to direct the large vehicles to the drop off point. Traffic cones will also be used to prevent vehicles from exiting restricted basement parking when large vehicles are entering the drop off point.
“The secure vehicle delivery point is an interim arrangement, while a permanent delivery point is being built with a separate entry and exit point that can accommodate large vehicles such as the SPS bus,” the prison service said.
