Overview

The School Bus (Safety) Bill aims to improve the safety of school buses in England, Wales, and Scotland by introducing stricter regulations on their design and operation, mandating safety training for both drivers and passengers, and establishing a School Bus Safety Council to monitor the bill's effectiveness.

Description

This bill introduces several key changes:

• New Regulations for School Buses: The Secretary of State will create regulations specifying that school buses (defined as vehicles carrying 12 or more passengers to/from school) must be single-decked, equipped with three-point seatbelts, have prominent external stop signs, be brightly colored, and display safety advice internally and externally. Other design, construction, and operational requirements may also be added.
• Dangerous Driving Offence: Overtaking a stationary school bus displaying its stop sign will be classified as dangerous driving under the Road Traffic Act 1988.
• Safety Training: Schools using school buses must provide safety training to students covering boarding, alighting, and in-bus conduct. Driver training may also be mandated through regulations.
• School Bus Safety Council: A council will be formed to monitor the bill's impact, report to the Secretary of State, and make recommendations for improvements. The council will include representatives from the Confederation of Passenger Transport.
• Parliamentary Reporting: Annual reports on the Act's operation, including accident statistics and causes, will be submitted to Parliament.

Government Spending

The bill will necessitate government spending to cover the Secretary of State's functions under the Act and any increases in spending under other Acts related to the implementation of this bill. Specific figures are not provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

This bill will affect:

• School Bus Operators: They will need to comply with new regulations regarding bus design, safety features, and maintenance.
• School Children: They will receive mandatory safety training.
• School Bus Drivers: They may be required to undergo additional training.
• Schools: They are responsible for providing safety training to pupils.
• The Public: They will benefit from improved road safety around school buses due to increased regulations.

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