Minister shocked by children not wearing seat belts
Junior Minister for Education Sean Haughey today branded as shocking that three-quarters of post-primary pupils are not wearing seatbelts on school buses.
Speaking as the new school year draws closer, he said the message must get through to children to “belt up safely”.
He referred to a survey carried out by Bus Eireann earlier in the year which revealed the majority of pupils were not complying with the new law, introduced following the Navan school bus crash in 2005 which claimed the lives of five teenage girls.
Mr Haughey also highlighted the misbehaviour of children on school transport services, including the vandalism of seatbelts, and declared new sanctions would be introduced to combat such actions.
“These are shocking statistics,” Mr Haughey said.
“I am very disappointed that teenagers are disregarding their own safety and the safety of their fellow passengers.
“With over 135,000 schoolchildren using these buses on a daily basis, we have to continue to enforce a message of safety for all pupils.
“Wearing a seatbelt is the law.
“I appeal to parents to ensure that this safety message gets through to their sons and daughters travelling to school each day,” he said.
Bus Eireann surveyed 150 school routes and found around 75% of post primary pupils were not wearing seatbelts.
Mr Haughey, who was speaking at the Bus Eireann’s School Transport Safety Roadshow at the agricultural show in Virginia, Co. Cavan, also added new penalties for misbehaviour on buses would be introduced, either financial or a withdrawal from services.
“Misbehaviour can affect the safety of fellow passengers and must be dealt with immediately.
“The new leaflet, being issued by Bus Eireann, sets out the sanctions which can be applied, either monetary or withdrawal of services for persistently misbehaving pupils,” he said.
A new school bus was also unveiled equipped with emergency doors that cannot be accidentally opened and emergency flashing lights to warn motorists of the presence of children.
The Government last August launched a major campaign to raise awareness among parents and children that it was the law to wear seatbelts on buses.
That ad campaign will run again on TV, radio and in cinemas, and a DVD starring Dustin the Turkey has been sent to schools to highlight the safety issue.
The fitting of belts was just one of a number of measures announced by the Education Department following the Navan bus tragedy in May 2005, in which five teenage girls were killed.
