School bus seatbelts not being used

THE Department of Education has conceded that its safety message for students travelling on school buses is not having the desired level of impact, reveal documents obtained by The Irish Examiner.

According to the briefing document prepared for Education Minister Mary Hanafin, the behaviour of some children using school transport is undermining advances made.

The document, obtained under Freedom of Information, adds that recent surveys conducted by Bus Éireann and the associations representing private bus operators found that the “level of compliance in the usage of seatbelts is low”.

This is despite it being enshrined in law that seatbelts must be worn where they are fitted. Seatbelts are now fitted on all school buses operating within the Department of Education School Transport Scheme.

A new prototype system of flashing warning lights, designed to warn road users that schoolchildren are in the vicinity of the school bus, has been tested by Bus Éireann and the department. Further “in-depth analysis” on the effectiveness of the system is to be undertaken before a decision is made on whether to proceed with a roll-out of the system nationally.

A survey by Bus Éireann and the Department of Education in February and March of this year found that seven out of 10 secondary pupils are not wearing the seat belts that were fitted on all school buses in the aftermath of the bus crash in Co Meath that killed five girls.

The survey of more than 4,000 pupils found that 25% of primary school pupils are not wearing seat belts, with the figure rising to 70% among secondary pupils.

There is also “firm evidence” of vandalism to seats and belts according to document. Bus Éireann has previously reported that dozens of services had to be suspended while belts were being repaired.

The document states there are issues relating to the contract between Bus Éireann and the department for operation of the School Transport Scheme which need to be resolved.

“These issues principally revolve around value for money aspects of the current arrangement,” it states. “A further issue arises in relation to the possibility that under EU procurement rules this contract should be advertised.”