A child with special needs required medical attention after suffering some injuries while traveling in an SBS Transit bus — the driver of which was accused of driving erratically and pumping way too hard on the brakes.
On Facebook, Nadira Begum recounted the incident that took place yesterday morning involving her six-year-old nephew, who had been riding on SBS bus service 163 with his mother.
“From the onset, the bus driver was driving erratically, unnecessarily hitting speed breaks — throwing his passengers about in the bus,” Nadira wrote. According to her, it was when the driver hit the brakes hard to stop at a traffic light that the boy was thrown forward in the bus, causing him to hit his face against a seat in front of him.
The impact was enough to cause bleeding on his lip. A visit to a doctor revealed that the child suffered mild swelling and abrasion on his lower lip, with evidence of slight bleeding as well.
The disheartening part, according to Nadira, was the alleged indifference shown by SBS Transit’s customer service representative, who was said to have shown a lack of concern about the family’s plight.
Thankfully, SBS Transit caught wind of Nadira’s Facebook post and reached out to the boy’s father. The company noted that it wants to cover the medical costs incurred ($56, by the way) and want to send a hamper over to their house as a way to make amends.
“My brother highlighted that a hamper was not necessary and he’d appreciate it more if some of the drivers are more aware and drive with care to avoid any major mishap given the large volume of senior citizens/children who commute via public transport,” Nadira wrote.
It’s unclear if SBS Transit will be taking action on the driver. But other commuters pointed out that what Nadira’s nephew faced is not uncommon.
