Debate contribution: Safety at School Bus Stops

Debate contribution by Mr Cathal Boylan on 2 June 2025.

MLA: Mr Cathal Boylan
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 2 June 2025
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Opposition Business
Heading: Safety at School Bus Stops
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4980906

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle.
First, I welcome the motion and send my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones in incidents related to school buses and all those who have been affected in any way. Recent tragic events have refocused minds on this issue. Campaigns on the need for increased driver vigilance near schools and school buses are important for further improving the safety of all our children. Like other Members, I welcome the families who have joined us in the Public Gallery today and send them Sinn Féin's full support. We should all be doing more to improve the safety of all road users and of children in particular. Too many families have had to endure the heartbreak of losing a loved one on our roads. Eighteen lives have been lost on our roads in this year alone. While that is a reduction on previous years, one life lost is one too many. We must do all that we can in this place to make sure that road safety is a priority across all our communities. Our amendment therefore seeks to highlight work that has already been done. Given all the issues that we face, we must make a start somewhere. The Department's implementation of 20 mph zones outside schools goes some way towards getting people to reduce their speed in those areas. I also note that the review of the current scheme recommends that a third tranche of schools be included, and I hope that the Minister can say more about that in her remarks. The most recent development in relation to school buses and road safety has been the launch of the campaign around the safety of children around school buses. The safety concerns around children when they are getting on and off a bus are worse in rural areas, where buses make a number of stops on roads without paths or bus shelters. I hope that people will take stock of the messaging campaign and ultimately change their behaviour on the roads. Moreover, I recognise and welcome the Minister's commitment to bring forward legislation to improve road safety around school buses. I am sure that she will wish to set out her position during her remarks in this debate. Our amendment clearly states that any legislation should be modelled on best practice in other jurisdictions in order to ensure that we are introducing the best possible measures to improve our children's safety. Whether it is advertising, reducing the speed limit outside schools, amending existing legislation or bringing forward new legislation, we should all be focused on what will improve our children's safety on the roads.
I have nearly finished, sorry. I make a direct appeal to anyone who is listening to the debate: each of us, as drivers, can do more to improve the safety of our roads. Slow down, stay focused and ignore mobile phones. Let us all play our part to make our roads safer.

496 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Awaiting analysis

This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification