Beyond passengers: Students as frontliners of bus safety

As the end of semester approaches, many university students from all over the country begin preparing for their journey home. What was supposed to be a joyful and anticipated moment is now being clouded by anxiety due to the tragic bus accident on June 9, 2025, involving students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) taken 15 lives.

This tragedy was not merely a transportation accident, it is a serious warning regarding the deep flaws in our public safety system, particularly concerning express bus services that are heavily relied upon by university students.

According to the Road Transport Department (JPJ), during the 2025 Hari Raya festive season alone, over 22,000 fines were issued to express buses. A total of 158 buses were banned from operating, and more than 1,800 other offences were recorded, which include drivers using mobile phones while driving and companies failed to provide a backup driver. These numbers reveal that the core problem lies not only on vehicle conditions but also poor management, lack of enforcement, and disregardful of operational safety practices.

Students are the hope of the nation. Every fatal accident that takes their lives crushes family dreams and robs the country of untapped potential. What was meant to be a safe journey back to campus to pursue their aspirations has dreadfully turned into a nightmare, with dreams buried alongside those lost before they had the chance to serve the nation.

Express buses are supposed to be a safe and affordable mode of transportation for students nationwide. However, in reality many now on board these buses with silent fear, too afraid to speak out their concerns on their safety. Still, not all families have the means to fetch their children, and for most, express buses remain the only practical option.

This is why students must be equipped with knowledge, awareness, and the courage to protect themselves. Universities, too, must move beyond just organising programmes and take on a strategic role in empowering students with essential knowledge for safe travel but also take into consideration on transparent risk assessments and provide proper channels for students to report concerns regarding vehicle condition or driver’s capability. We should not wait for another tragedy to act.

As frequent express bus passengers, for travelling home, attending off-campus events, or participating in university activities, students must be bolder, more informed, and well prepared to be the frontliners in safeguarding their safety while travelling. The knowledge gained at university must be applicable in the real world, especially in unexpected road incidents. Students are not only at risk of being accident victims, but may also be the first witness or responders at the scene. It is time for students to emerge as everyday heroes, not just for academic excellence but also for their proactive attitude, awareness of safety, and readiness to help others. To achieve this, students must focus on three critical areas:

1. Know your rights as a passenger.

Every student has the right to raise safety concerns if a bus appears unsafe, if the driver seems unwell, or if there are clear violations of safety protocols. Students also have the right to refuse to board such vehicles and report the issue to university authorities or enforcement bodies. Safety is not a privilege, it is a right that must be asserted.

2. Master basic emergency and first aid skills.

In a remote accident locations or route, students or nearby civilians are often the first responders before ambulance arrived. In that critical moment, the ability to perform CPR, stop bleeding, or stabilise victims can make a difference between life and death. This is why basic first aid training must be made a compulsory part of every university education.

3. Ethical and empathetic crisis communication.

When tragedy occurs, how the authorities and bus operators communicate with victims’ families matters deeply. Rushed, defensive, or blame-shifting statements only worsen the pain of grieving families. There must be a standard crisis communication protocol, and every spokesperson should be trained to respond with empathy, clarity, and professionalism. Students, too, can be trained in ethical crisis communication so they are prepared to assist or lead in times of emergency, wherever and whenever needed.

Safety is not a coincidence; it is a planned, learned, and practised knowledge, not only by bus operators, but also by passengers themselves. Students must be recognised as knowledgeable individuals capable of making wise decisions, not passive users who accept all conditions unquestioningly. Most importantly, students must be empowered to understand that they have the right to make informed choices and to refuse to board a vehicle if their safety is at risk. Society must stand with them in calling for a more humane and accountable public transport system, one that values every life it carries.