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Spent the last 3 weeks touring most of the east coast & highlands of Scotland.
I am aghast at the situation re school bus safety signs, I did not know it was so bad, in fact , seem to have actually got worse.
It’s very apparent that the recommendations by Transport Scotland are ignored.
I cannot believe this will be allowed to continue, I cannot believe our government can continue to allow pupils to be injured or sadly killed,
I refuse to accept nothing can be done, as a parent or grand parent ask yourself this, what if your door is knocked by two police officers, with the worst news you could possibly hear, ever want to hear ?
I ask you to focus on that thought as you read on.
Local Authorities have a common law duty of care for the safety of pupils under their charge and this duty extends to pupils travelling on dedicated transport arranged by the authority.
A duty of care is a legal obligation imposed on an individual or organisation requiring that they adhere to a standard of reasonable care while being responsible for situations that could cause foreseeable harm to others.
A duty of care for pupils‘ safety is also covered by the Schools (Safety and Supervision of Pupils) (Scotland) Regulations 1990. The Regulations place upon local authorities a general duty, without prejudice to any other statute, to secure, as far as is practicable, the safety of pupils when under their charge.
Pupils travelling on dedicated school transport arranged by education authorities are under the charge of the authorities, therefore authorities are expected to keep school transport provision under review to ensure the safety of pupils when travelling on school transport.
VOSA & JOAN AITKEN traffic commissioner
by Sarah Jane whaley - 12:35 on 07 February 2012
VOSA – Joan Aitken
We would congratulate VOSA [ The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency] for unannounced school bus safety checks. The latest being an operator in Aberdeenshire Scotland, its second offence.
Lets hope they keep them up, we know they are not the only ones!!
This happens UK wide, these are your children that are being placed at risk!!
Your local authority has a responsibility of care for you child, it appears in many instances “Its on the back burner”
They wont even stipulate where a safety sign can be fitted or displayed,on the school bus or coach, they use the smallest version allowed,also the decision is left to the driver or company, whom we see through this are not well placed to do so.
The Traffic Commissioner then noted that when the vehicles went to annual test, they were not in prime condition. Ms Aitken said: “The full lessons of the previous Public Inquiry have not been learned in terms of sustained attention to recording what defects had been repaired. This Public Inquiry has served to put a strong marker down to the operator that it should guard against complacency and that school transport work requires the highest of standards and total commitment to the licence undertakings.
” The Traffic Commissioner warned the operator and put a condition on the licence preventing any increase in authorisation for a period of nine months from 18 January 2012.
Once again we see school pupils placed at risk, you would think a bus company would have a level of care, it appears not, and this is the second offence.
You would think being responsible for your childs safety, or possibly as parents or grand parents themselves, i expect if their children were being transported in unfit buses they would have much to say.
Once again we see school pupils placed at risk, you would think a bus company would have a level of care, it appears not, and this is the second offence.
If my children were carried by this firm i would be very worried, it also applies to other firms, its only a matter of weeks ago a bus driver was caught using his mobile, driving for Kineal coaches, who also carry out many school runs, both in Aberdeenshire &
Moray
Apologies
The police can do something, the bus is overcrowded, simple as that, its a danger.
Contact the police again, not transport police..Tell them you have written to us.
If you have problems , please contact us again.
You can also ask your council to do a safety review on this bus run, they must have one in place, its the law.
If they have one ask to see it.
Once again my apologies
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Lisa,
Apologies for the delay in replying, due to illness.
Northern Ireland has its own safety laws, that i cannot comment on.
However your local coucil has a duty of care for your child, contact them.As does the bus company..
Best advice i can give is to contact your MP, Local councillor, school & bus company.
Maybe not so hard as you think, ask then if if this were there child , would they be happy, Also ask for every thing in writing, that way no denials can take place.
Sorry but this is the best i can do.
Regards
Ron