SAF DRIVER TRAINING SYSTEM IMPRESSES TRANSPORT SAFETY PANEL

When Singapore's former chief transportation engineer and road safety warrior Associate Professor Gopinath Menon says that a driver training system is impressive and thorough, it is high praise indeed.

He made the comment after visiting Kaki Bukit Camp - where the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) conducts training for transport operators - and the cross-country driving circuit located in the Mandai area.

He is chairman of the Military Transport Safety Review Panel (MTSRP) which has been tasked to make recommendations to improve the SAF's transport training system.

"I am impressed at the level of detail and the small things that the SAF looks into, from the number of driver hours to the simulators and the obstacle courses that the drivers have to go through. It's all very professional," said Assoc Prof Menon, who was Singapore's chief transport planner from 1991 to 2001. He added, however, that there was always room for improvement.

During the visit on 15 Aug, the panel was briefed on the SAF's driving training system. They also experienced the driver training simulators and training circuits.

The second half of the five-hour visit took the panel to Mandai Camp II, where they went through part of the SAF cross-country driving circuit.

The three-member panel comprises other industry experts: Mr Poh Key Boon, an Executive Director with Poh Tiong Choon Logistics Group, and Mr Tan Poh Chye, Vice President Safety with SBS Transit.

Said Mr Tan: "There are things for us to learn from the SAF as well, and we welcome the SAF to share its expertise with us."

The panel will visit Sembawang Camp next, where the Supply and Transport Centre is located, on 26 Aug. It will be submitting its findings by end-September.