Debate contribution: Safety at School Bus Stops

Debate contribution by Mr Colin Crawford on 2 June 2025.

MLA: Mr Colin Crawford
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 2 June 2025
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Opposition Business
Heading: Safety at School Bus Stops
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4981311

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Members opposite for bringing this important motion to the Floor and, indeed, all Members who have constructively added to the debate. The safety of our children in travelling to and from school is something that rightly unites the House. The SDLP's motion raises a valid concern: the absence of a legal requirement for vehicles to stop when a school bus is picking up or dropping off pupils. That gap in our legislation is deeply concerning, and we fully understand the motivation behind the motion. However, we believe that improving pupil safety demands a broader and more robust response, so we tabled our amendment not to weaken the call for action but to strengthen it. Our amendment recognises that legislation alone will not solve the problem. Yes, the law must be reviewed, and, where gaps exist, they should be addressed, but we must also tackle the root causes of risk through better infrastructure, awareness and cross-departmental cooperation. In rural areas especially, poor road layouts, inadequate lighting and inconsistent signage contribute to danger not just when children board buses but as they walk to stops or cross roads. Simply requiring vehicles to stop without addressing those underlying factors risks creating a false sense of security. That is why our amendment calls for a strategy, not just a law. It demands collaboration between Infrastructure, Education, the PSNI and transport providers to deliver practical measures, including safer bus stops, improved warning systems and targeted public awareness campaigns to change driver behaviour. This is not about dismissing legislation; it is about ensuring that any changes are part of a broader, evidence-based approach that keeps our children safe. Other jurisdictions have strict stopping laws, but they also invest in enforcement, education and engineering solutions. We must do the same. I urge Members to support our amendment. Let us move beyond a piecemeal response and deliver a plan that protects pupils at every stage of their journey to school.

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

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