Cyprus parliamentary committee addresses school bus safety concerns

Following an Audit Office report dated June 18, the Cyprus Parliamentary Committee on Transport discussed significant technical defects in school buses. The data revealed that 19% of buses previously cleared by private inspection centers were found unsuitable by state facilities. Furthermore, nationwide checks conducted at public centers indicated that 35% of all inspected school buses were unfit for service. Minister of Transport Alexis Vafeades announced that the Department of Road Transport will implement stricter, continuous oversight of private inspection centers. This initiative includes randomized inspections of both private and state testing facilities to ensure compliance. The new measures will extend to buses used for school excursions as well as private and special education school routes. While bus companies cited government bureaucratic delays and high workloads as contributing factors to the issues, educational organizations expressed deep concern regarding student safety.