A long-awaited draft regulation on Chinese school bus safety management was passed in principle on March 28 at a State Council executive meeting chaired by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, according to a statement released.

The draft regulation asks local governments to ensure that students attend schools near their homes or boarding schools to "reduce students' traffic risks".

In rural areas that cannot ensure nearby schooling or convenient public transport to schools, measures should be taken to ensure students' access to school buses.

The draft states that county level and higher governments will be responsible for the management of school bus safety within their jurisdiction. It also sets obligations and responsibilities of the schools and service providers to guarantee safety.

According to the draft, higher technical standards will be set for school buses and stricter requirements for the drivers. School buses will have the right of way on the road and a speed limit will be set for them. People involved in unlawful school bus services or uses will be held legally and possibly criminally responsible.

The State Council will publicise the draft regulation for implementation after further revision, the statement said.

保障学生上下学集体乘车安全

近年来，一些地方，特别是一些农村地区，孩子们上学路途趋远，上下学交通风险增大，一段时期多次发生的校车安全事故造成未成年人重大伤亡，教训惨痛“坚持从实际出发，保证制度规定切实可行。”国务院法制办负责人说，针对保障校车安全的主要环节，作出符合中国国情、特别是符合农村地区实际情况的校车安全管理规定；考虑地区、城乡不同情况，在确立全国普遍适用的制度同时，给地方制定具体办法留出空间。

护佑校车驶入“安全通道”

《校车安全管理条例》条例总共62条，分为总则、学校和校车服务提供者、校车使用许可、校车驾驶人、校车通行安全、校车乘车安全、法律责任、附则等８章。条例规定，县级以上地方政府对本行政区域的校车安全管理工作负总责。保障学生就近入学或者在寄宿制学校入学，减少学生上下学的交通风险，发展城市和农村公共交通，为需要乘车上下学的学生提供方便，对确实难以保障就近入学，并且公共交通不能满足学生上下学需要的农村地区，县级以上地方政府保障接受义务教育的学生获得校车服务。同时，条例还规定，县级以上地方人民政府根据本地区实际情况，可以制定管理办法，组织依法取得道路旅客运输经营许可的个体经营者提供校车服务。配备校车的学校、校车服务提供者应当指派照管人员随校车全程照管乘车学生。条例还对政府部门、学校的校车安全管理责任，校车驾驶人的条件，校车在道路上行驶的通行安全，随车照管人员的职责，以及违法后的处罚等做了规定。