Seat belts play an important role in keeping people safe whilst travelling in motor vehicles and the Scottish Government has had long-standing intentions to introduce legislation which would require councils to stipulate, within any dedicated school transport contracts with bus operators that the vehicles used must be fitted with seat belts. Dedicated school transport in the consultation refers to vehicles provided by the council or independent/grant-aided school provider for transporting pupils to and from school at the start and end of the school day.
In order to help inform and shape any future legislation, the Scottish Government is seeking views from stakeholders with an interest, particularly those in local authorities responsible for education and transport, bus companies, those involved in education, schools, parenting groups and parents themselves on whether seat belts should become a legal requirement within councils’ dedicated school bus contracts.
The consultation is open until 3 June 2016. For more information and to respond to the consultation please visit the Scottish Government Consultation Hub (bit.ly/seatbelt-requirements).
