Safety on Learner Transport

SCHOOL TRANSPORT LEGISLATION
CLEARS FIRST STAGE

New plans by the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government to legislate on safety standards on school transport were debated by Assembly Members this week.
If passed, the proposed Safety on Learner Transport (Wales) Measure will allow Minister’s to introduce new regulations to ensure that all contracted transport used on the school run conforms to the highest safety standards. Following this weeks vote, the Measure will go on to a second stage of scrutiny.
Ensuring the safety of our children as they travel on the school bus a key priority for parents and a key priority for the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government.
Powers over learner transport safety were devolved to the National Assembly for Wales in April 2010 following the approval of the Transport Legislative Competence Order (LCO) which was introduced in February 2010 and passed in March.
The framework powers contained in the proposed Measure will enable the Assembly Government to place a wide range of requirements on local authorities and bus operators in relation to the safety standards of contracted school buses.
Carl Sargeant AM for Alyn & Deeside said,
“It is of paramount importance that parents can be assured of the safety of their children whilst they are being transported to and from school, the proposals laid before the Welsh Assembly will ensure better protection for our schoolchildren.”
The proposed Safety on Learner Transport (Wales) Measure aims to introduce a number of compulsory safety regulations for school transport, including the use of appropriate seatbelts and CCTV. Under the Measure, trained supervisors would be provided for some learner transport, mandatory training for drivers would be developed and vehicles that don’t meet strict safety standards would be phased out.