Debate contribution: Safety at School Bus Stops

Debate contribution by Mr Keith Buchanan on 2 June 2025.

MLA

Mr Keith Buchanan

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

2 June 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Safety at School Bus Stops

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4981275

Read the official Assembly record

Text

The matter before us is emotive. It is important to safeguard children travelling to and from school on Education Authority-provided transport and public transport. The latest figures, from 2022-23, highlight the fact that a significant number of children rely on bus transport: 42% of post-primary students and 7% of primary-school children. That underscores the importance of having a robust, well-monitored system that not only provides efficient transportation but prioritises the protection and welfare of our children, no matter how they travel to and from school. The devastation caused by road traffic accidents is not just reflected in statistics; it is felt in the lives lost, families shattered and communities mourning loved ones. Each incident is a stark reminder that safer driving is not just a personal responsibility but a social duty. We need enhanced road safety education, increased penalties for dangerous driving and better infrastructure to protect vulnerable road users. We must work collectively to ensure that every journey is a safe one, whether we are drivers, pedestrians, cyclists or public transport users. The responsibility for reducing road traffic collisions belongs to us all. It is our collective responsibility, along with parents, the PSNI, transport providers and all drivers, to ensure that every child or adult who steps on to a bus in the morning returns safely home in the afternoon. As already highlighted today, there is no law in Northern Ireland that requires drivers to stop or prevents the overtaking of a school bus. Rules 208 and 209 of the UK Highway Code, under "Near schools", state:

"Drive slowly and be particularly aware of young cyclists and pedestrians. In some places, there may be a flashing amber signal below the ‘School’ warning sign which tells you that there may be children crossing the road ahead. Drive very slowly until you are clear of the area. Drive carefully and slowly when passing a stationary bus showing a ‘School Bus’ sign as children may be getting on or off."

Obviously, that is near school estates, not out in the countryside or on rural roads. The motion and the amendments fundamentally want to achieve the same thing: the safety of our children. Other jurisdictions have acted. In the United States and Canada, passing a stopped school bus is a serious offence, and, in other parts of Europe, stricter laws, awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement have made a difference. In March 2025, my colleague Deborah Erskine, Chair of the Infrastructure Committee, and her Committee colleagues wrote to the Minister to scope out options to further safeguard children. We acknowledge that that requires collaboration. The Committee also agreed to write to Translink and the Education Authority. The whole of the mid-Ulster community was shaken by the tragic death of Caitlin-Rose McMullan. Her loss is not just a statistic but a heartbreak that ripples through her family, her friends, her school and every parent who hears her story. The grief for a loved one carries a stark reminder of why the issue matters. When a parent sends their child to school in the morning, the natural expectation is that they will come home safely. Sadly, that expectation was shattered not just for the family of Caitlin-Rose but for other families in mid-Ulster who have lost children in fatal accidents when getting off the school bus. It is our responsibility to ensure that no other family has to endure the pain. Indeed, my wife's cousin was tragically killed in the mid-1980s on the same road in very similar circumstances, so it brought it home to us. I urge the Minister to work with all other relevant Departments and organisations to ensure that our children, who are the next generation —

— are safe when travelling to and from their place of education.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:45 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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