Warning system installed in 40 school buses

A new warning light system, installed on 40 school buses will begin operating in three areas of the country from today.

The pilot initiative will operate in Carnew, Co. Wicklow, Castlebar, Co Mayo and Ferbane, Co. Offaly.

It is the second phase of the pilot initiative which commenced over recent months in the three locations which will use the flashing lights which have just been installed.

Phase one involved the independent evaluation of driver and pedestrian behaviour in the vicinity of schools and school buses, before the warning lights were fitted. This second phase will look at behaviour following the installation of the warning lights.

The distinctive warning lights system will alert motorists whenever a school bus is about to stop, or stops to collect or disembark children from the bus.

The Minister with responsibility for school transport Sean Haughey said: “The safety of every child is of paramount importance in the delivery of the school transport system. Motorists are asked to be particularly conscious of safety when in the vicinity of schools and school busses."

"It is intended that, by alerting motorists with this distinctive warning flashing light system, the likelihood of an accident occurring while school pupils are either boarding or alighting from school buses will be reduced to an absolute minimum”, he said.

This year the Department of Education and Science will spend more than €175m transporting around 135,000 children to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. This includes approximately 8,000 children with special needs.