Seat belts for school buses law passed

A bill requiring all school buses to be fitted with seat belts was unanimously passed yesterday by the Scottish Parliament. 

The Seat Belts on School Transport (Scotland) Bill, introduced by Gillian Martin, SNP member for Aberdeenshire East, commanded cross party support – but required an order under the Scotland Act 1998 for the Parliament to have the power to legislate on the matter, a power that does not extend to enforcing the wearing of the belts fitted.

It will also not apply to secondary school transport until the school year beginning in August 2021, as five local authorities have contracts running until then that do not require the fitting of seat belts, though 18 councils already do so in all contracts and a further nine will follow by next year. However the new law will apply to primary school transport from August 2018.

The duty in the bill extends to local authorities, grant-aided school providers and independent school providers. It includes home-to-school provision and, following amendment, vehicles used for school trips and excursions.