School Bus Transport - NI Assembly Inquiry
In September 2000, prompted by concerns about the safety of children travelling to and from school and specifically about overcrowding on buses, the Environment Committee of the NI Assembly initiated a public inquiry into home to school transport.
The 'Inquiry into Transport used for Children Travelling To and From School' examined the legislation governing the number of schoolchildren allowed to travel on buses; considered the safety of schoolchildren when large numbers travel on buses; and considered the need to amend the legislation to restrict the numbers of schoolchildren on buses.
The final Inquiry Report,  which contained 28 recommendations, was published in September 2001. The key recommendations, as identified by the Committee, were:
- The abolition of the provision that allows three children under the age of 14 to share two seats. The Committee recommended that the '3 for 2' seating concession operated by the Education and Library Boards (E L B s) and Translink be abolished for all children. Carriage of pupils in excess of seating capacity should only be allowable in exceptional circumstances.
- The introduction of 'no standing' for all children entitled to transport. The Committee recommended that the E L B s should specify in all contracts that every child who is entitled to transport is entitled to a seat. This applies to E L B services; services operating under contract to the E L Bs; Translink 'school' services; and to scheduled stage carriage services. E L B s and schools should also apply this rule to any organised school trips.
With regard to non-entitled children, Translink and any other stage carriage operators should identify where they stand longer than the operator's quality standard and take measures to prevent this recurring. A Regulatory Impact Assessment should also be carried out to assess the impact of 'no standing' for non-entitled schoolchildren.
- The fitting of seatbelts on all buses used primarily for the carriage of schoolchildren. The Committee recommended that the E L B s should progressively require the provision of lap and diagonal belts for all schoolchildren on contract services, those Translink scheduled stage carriage used primarily for the carriage of schoolchildren and on their own E L B buses. The Committee acknowledged that this would involve a 'phasing in' programme for implementation.
- The introduction of improved school bus signage and lighting.
The Committee recommended that a technical specification should be developed for an illuminated school bus sign, which would be used in conjunction with hazard warning lights. This new equipment would be fitted to all vehicles with a passenger capacity greater than nine.
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