The Northern Irish government has launched a consultation seeking views on a proposed approach to improving safety when passengers, particularly children, are getting on or off buses.
The Safer Journeys to School: Consultation on overtaking and passing buses explores whether clearer, more targeted rules on driver behaviour around buses could help reduce risk, particularly at the point when children are getting on and off buses.
Liz Kimmins, NI’s infrastructure minister, said: “Sadly in recent years, tragic incidents involving children at bus stops have highlighted the risks that can arise when passengers are getting on or off buses.
“These moments present a period of particular vulnerability, especially where children may need to cross the road and where traffic speed, visibility or road layout increase the potential for harm.”
The consultation sets out a preferred proposal, alongside a range of options for further development, focused on improving safety for children and other vulnerable passengers when they are boarding or alighting from buses, and immediately afterwards, when risk can be heightened.
Minister Kimmins continued: “There are two parts to our approach. The first sets out a legislative proposal to prohibit overtaking a stationary bus in clearly defined dangerous circumstances, focused on situations where passengers may be exposed to harm.
“The second part presents a number of options for further development designed to mitigate the risks associated with vehicles passing buses during boarding and alighting, including from the opposite direction.
“I will also bring forward a comprehensive package of measures focusing on education, engineering and enforcement to ensure children are safe travelling to and from school.”
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