Debate contribution: Safety at School Bus Stops

Debate contribution by Ms Liz Kimmins on 2 June 2025.

MLA

Ms Liz Kimmins

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

2 June 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Opposition Business

Heading

Safety at School Bus Stops

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4981289

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

I thank all Members who have spoken, particularly the proposer of the motion. It is a very important issue. It is an issue on which I publicly stated my intentions a number of weeks ago. Members said that I did so just today, but it was a number of weeks ago. Sadly, the issue has been highlighted in the worst way imaginable following the recent death of young Caitlin-Rose McMullan. I pay tribute to Caitlin-Rose's mum, Stella, whom I met this morning, and to all the other families who have experienced such a significant loss. I met families this morning who have been bereaved through road traffic collisions. It is something that none of us wants to come to our door. I pay tribute to all the families who have used their experience to drive the message about road safety forward holistically and to the work that they continue to do. As Members will be all too familiar with, too many lives have been lost on our roads; too many families, such as those whom we have mentioned, have had their world shattered; and too many people have set out on what was a routine journey but have not arrived at their destination and will never return home to their loved ones. As I said, I met some of those families today — I have met many of them during my time in this role — and heard their heartbreaking and moving stories. I pay tribute to them for their dignity and bravery in sharing their experience to try to ensure that no one else goes through the emotional trauma and loss that they continue to endure every day. It is a sentiment that we all share, which is why road safety is such a priority for me. I say not just as a Minister or an elected representative but as a mother of two small children that I think about this issue every day, no matter the journey. I think that, on a very human level, we can all agree that we need to address the issue. I am committed to doing that in the best way possible in the time ahead. I am committed, where possible, to implementing initiatives that will prevent lives from being lost or for ever changed by serious injury.

As you will all be aware, in the wake of the recent tragedy of Caitlin-Rose's death, I asked my officials to look at all options available to us to improve bus safety for schoolchildren. In doing so and in order to have a fuller picture of how the issue is being tackled in other countries, I have looked closely at the legal provisions and measures in place in other jurisdictions — some Members have mentioned them — including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, the South, England, Scotland, Wales and Canada. As I said, it is my intention to introduce legislation to prohibit the overtaking of school buses that have stopped to drop off or pick up schoolchildren. That legislation will not work in isolation; it will be part of a package of measures. Some of those are already in place, and others will be put in place in the coming weeks and months. I thank Caitlin-Rose's mum, because some of the suggestions that she has brought to my attention have shown me that this will not work in isolation; we have to look holistically at everything that we can do. For example, as I have mentioned, I am putting in place measures to reinforce existing policy around the proper use of signs and lights on buses carrying children to and from school. Those warning lights are an important tool in helping to improve bus safety for schoolchildren. Under new measures, fixed penalty notices will be issued if that is not done correctly or if they are not working. I expect to have that in place by the beginning of the new school term in September this year. Work to finalise the safety initiatives that I have announced was already under way before today, but, nevertheless, the motion is a welcome opportunity to highlight what can be and is being done to address the issue of safety for children travelling on school buses. I recently commissioned a new outdoor road safety campaign regarding the safety of children around buses. The campaign highlights a key risk: children are more at risk around a bus than on it. The call to action for motorists is to watch out for children crossing from either the front or the back of the bus. The campaign utilises point-of-danger messaging in the form of bus rears and on-street advertising. The campaign went live on 19 May. It is now part of my Department's advertising portfolio and will run at regular intervals. Buses display the road safety message across the North of Ireland in rural and urban areas. The on-street advertising also appears across the North in rural and urban towns. Officials have developed further information on safety around buses that is frequently issued through my Department's Share the Road to Zero initiative, which is associated with its Facebook and X accounts. As others have mentioned, my Department has implemented part-time 20 mph speed limits at 233 schools. A review of the scheme recommended the provision of further tranches at targeted schools, particularly those in rural areas, which we are currently preparing and finalising for this financial year. Education is also an important preventative measure. A number of road safety resources are already available to schools, but, following my conversation with Caitlin-Rose's mummy this morning, I think that it would be beneficial to look at increased and more targeted learning around bus safety. I hope to engage with the Education Minister in relation to that; there is definitely something that we can do to improve education. It is not only about putting the onus on motorists; we can all play our part in developing that. My Department also produces a road safety teaching aid calendar that is available electronically. It covers a wide range of road safety messages that teachers can use in the school environment. Our Highway Code emphasises that drivers need to take special care around buses and give priority to people getting off a bus and crossing the road, but I recognise that we need to do more on that. It is important to point out that, in countries such as the US, where legislation on overtaking school buses already exists, the package of measures includes education, enforcement and the use of schools to address school bus safety. The package of measures that I am introducing builds on the foundations that are set out in the road safety strategy and its accompanying action plan. The strategy is founded on the internationally recognised Safe System principles. There is a deliberate focus on safe road use, safe roads and roadsides, safe vehicles, safe speeds and safe people. The strategy places a renewed focus on making our roads safer to use for all, particularly those who are more vulnerable, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders, with the long-term goal of eliminating deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 2050. In addition to what I have set out today, I am keen to explore how we can work better with our blue lights road safety partners and other Departments, including Health and Education, on joint, targeted campaigns and safety-improving measures through the strategic road safety forum and its subgroups. At official level, cross-departmental discussions have been taking place at pace to make that happen. School bus safety is also a key area of focus for Translink, which has led on initiatives over the years to help to promote school bus safety and ensure that safety measures are communicated effectively. It has also enhanced its internal driver training to support that messaging. I believe that the extensive package of measures that I am introducing, which I have outlined today, will make a difference in safeguarding our children on their journeys to and from school. Legislation is not a quick or immediate fix. However, strengthening the legislation is the right thing to do, and, as I have said, I have instructed officials to progress that as a priority. I hope to do that in the most efficient and effective way, as I recognise that we have a short mandate. If we have the opportunity to deliver that within the time frame that is available to us, it is important that we do so. Some of the measures that I have outlined require investment, and others require legislation, but there are some things that we can all do right here and right now that will help us to reach the goal. We can all take more care on the roads. We can all slow down and ignore our mobile phones. We can all have conversations with our families and friends about our shared responsibility as road users. We can all share road safety messaging to ensure that it reaches as wide an audience as possible. No budget is required for any of that, and there is no need to wait for legislation. The impact is immediate, and, although we may never know it, we could be saving lives. I hope that I can give assurances to the families here today, to the medics and to all those who play a key role in dealing with the ripple effect that tragedies such as the death of young Caitlin-Rose McMullan can have on many people's lives, not least those of the families. I hope that we can all use that to deliver something much better that will help to save lives, particularly those of our schoolchildren. I thank Members for the debate. I look forward to working with all of you to deliver in the time ahead.

1,647 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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