NATIONAL COALITION OF SCHOOL BUS SAFETY NEWS 2004

Ireland - Pupils' lives 'at risk on school bus run'
McCrea concern at lack of seat belts

3 January 2004

ULSTER school children risk their lives every day by not wearing seat belts on school buses, a leading politician has warned.

Assemblyman Willie McCrea, who investigated the issue when he was chairman of the Environment Committee at Stormont, fears a tragedy is just waiting to happen.

He spoke out after it emerged that planned European legislation will force all coach and bus operators in Northern Ireland to introduce seat belts on most of their vehicles.

And the main bus operator in Northern Ireland, Translink, is calling for new laws to force its passengers to belt-up.

Mr McCrea said: "We need to ensure the safety of the children who use buses. In discussions at Stormont, we realised that there would be a financial cost, spread across many different departments, but we do believe the police who told us that it was a tragedy waiting to happen.

"We cannot wait on a tragedy like that, and we believe that all new buses should be equipped with proper seat belts.

"We have to genuinely look at that situation at the highest level, and that brings us to the European recommendations, which I believe would be beneficial."

If successful the EU change, known as the Bus Directive, will have major implications for school bus services, which are often overcrowded with standing pupils. But it has been welcomed locally as a positive step.

The proposed European Commission directive will make fitting seat belts compulsory on all motorised vehicles throughout the EU.

Translink, which carries about 65,000 schoolchildren each school day, said it was aware of the proposed legislation, but suggested legislation might be required to force children to use seat belts on buses.

"We have been working ahead of this pending EU legislation, and since 2001 all coaches purchased are fitted with 'three-point' seat belts, which is in excess of the demands of the forthcoming legislation," a spokeswoman said.

But despite this, and all older buses being re-fitted with seat belts, she said there was a low take-up by passengers.

"Voluntary usage by passengers on buses fitted with seat belts has been very low and, without legislation, it would be extremely difficult to persuade children to wear seatbelts.

"Translink would welcome legislation requiring the mandatory use of seat belts where they are fitted."

Jonathan Bell, a Southern Education Board member, also supports the EU proposal.

"In this day and age, traffic is too busy and you would not let your kids get into the car without a seat belt," he said.

"There is a safety issue and it comes down to economics, but it is a hassle for the kids and they are not safe if they are standing."

By Michael McHugh

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