RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
November 17, 1998
DEATH CRASH ANNIVERSARY PROMPTS SAFETY CALL
Five years after the M40 minibus disaster which killed 12 pupils and a teacher, The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents warned today that still not enough is being done to protect children on school transport.
The victims from Hagley RC High School died in the collision with a lorry on the hard shoulder of the M40 on November 18, 1993.
A four-point action plan from RoSPA calls for:
- A date when the wearing of seatbelts on school minibuses and coaches becomes compulsory
- The driving hours of volunteers to be regulated
- Escorts on school transport to ensure children wear seatbelts, are properly supervised and do not distract drivers
- All minibus drivers to take a recognised test, rather than just new drivers
Dave Rogers, RoSPA Road Safety Adviser said: "I regularly receive calls from parents who are worried about the state of school minibuses and coaches. They are particularly concerned about whether seatbelts come up to scratch and the general safety of older vehicles.
"Seatbelts in minibuses - and coaches - now have to be checked under the MoT test but it is still not compulsory for them to be worn.
"RoSPA has developed a minibus test which addresses general safety checks on vehicles, and also demonstrates how a minibus will handle very differently to an ordinary car. That is why we believe it is vital that all volunteer drivers should take a special minibus test, not just new drivers.
"There is still nothing to stop volunteers driving a party of school children long distances after they have spent a full day at work and may already be tired.
"RoSPA believes escorts have an important role to play in safety on school transport. This is one of the key issues raised in the code of practice which we have developed on minibus safety."
