Bus operators who provide school transport in Orkney are required to have safety belts fitted in all vehicles used. But this is only a requirement in 18 of Scotland’s local authorities.
A committee of the Scottish Parliament wishes to hear the views of all those who have experience of using school transport. The Seat Belts in School Transport (Scotland) Bill is currently at Committee stage where it is being discussed. The Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee wants to take evidence from those who have practical experience of using school transport.
Edward Mountain MSP, Convener said:
“The purpose of the Bill is to require that seat belts are fitted on all motor vehicles which are used in dedicated home-to-school transport services, and we want to hear views from those with direct, ‘frontline’ experience of school transport safety.”
“The safety of children travelling to school is of vital importance. A key question for the committee is whether the bill will achieve its aim of improving safety on school transport. Eighteen local authority areas have already chosen to make it a requirement for seat belts to be fitted on dedicated school transport. The Committee wants to know whether making it compulsory for all education authorities is the correct way forward.”
As seat belt provision in Orkney is a requirement in school transport it would be interesting for the committee to have the views of those where this happens.
The main questions the committee wish to address are:
- Are you in favour of the Bill and its provisions? Do you think the Bill achieves its aim of improving safety on school transport?
- 18 local authorities have already chosen to make it a requirement of their school bus contracts for seat belts to be fitted on dedicated school transport . Do you feel that this has been successful?
- Is there anything else that you feel should be included in the Bill?
- Will the Bill and its provisions have a particular impact on equalities groups?
Evidence can be submitted until 14th April 2017.
How to submit your evidence
Before making a submission, please read our Policy on Treatment of Written Evidence by Subject and Mandatory Committees.
Responses should be sent, wherever possible, electronically and in MS Word format to: rec.committee@parliament.scot
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