Northern Ireland consult on safety of children using school buses

The Northern Irish government has launched a consultation seeking views on a proposed approach to improving safety when passengers, particularly children, are getting on or off buses.

The Safer Journeys to School: Consultation on overtaking and passing buses explores whether clearer, more targeted rules on driver behaviour around buses could help reduce risk, particularly at the point when children are getting on and off buses.

The consultation sets out a preferred proposal, alongside a range of options for further development, focused on improving safety for children and other vulnerable passengers when they are boarding or alighting from buses, and immediately afterwards, when risk can be heightened.

Liz Kimmins, NI’s infrastructure minister, said: “Sadly in recent years, tragic incidents involving children at bus stops have highlighted the risks that can arise when passengers are getting on or off buses.

“These moments present a period of particular vulnerability, especially where children may need to cross the road and where traffic speed, visibility or road layout increase the potential for harm.”