Time to make school transport safer

Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce sets out the issues about school bus safety being raised in his Commons adjournment debate.

In my adjournment debate on Thursday, I am highlighting the need for legislation on school bus safety. I first raised the issue in the House over 10 years ago during a 10-minute rule bill.

Back then, I called in my speech for clearly and distinctly marked buses, a ban on the over-taking of stationary school buses and on the fitting of three-point seatbelts on school buses.

Last year in Aberdeenshire, 12-year-old Alexander Milne and 15-year-old Robyn Oldham were both tragically killed within the space of a month when dismounting a school bus. These needless casualties have led local campaigners to renew their calls for a change in the law.

Department of Transport figures show that hundreds of school pupils are injured every year when travelling to school in a bus or tram and although a relatively few incidents result in fatalities, many of these accidents could be avoided by introducing simple and effective legislation.

Although I am not calling for the widespread introduction of American-style yellow buses, in his debate I will re-emphasise the need for clearer, prominent markings of school buses and a ban on over-taking.

In a presentation bill submitted earlier this year, I also called for improved safety training and awareness amongst pupils and drivers, and proposed that the government establish a national School Bus Safety Council.

I am not calling on the Department of Transport to back the bill wholesale, but rather expect the secretary of state and his ministers to engage with safety campaigners, transport providers and their representative organisations, to work through individual components referred to in the bill in order to try to secure an improved school transport safety culture.

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