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EU NEWSThe DGT in Spain activates a surveillance campaign to ensure seat belt use in coaches.Not wearing a seat belt is a serious violation that is punishable by a fine of 200 euros to be paid by the passenger
EU GOOD PRACTICE As children form one of the most vulnerable road user categories,, the European Commission has YOU WILL FIND ALL THE DETAILS BY CLICKING HERE http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved
................................ I will be adding proposals the European Union recommends for road safety in School Transport. It only recommends but with power, it is up to our government or local authority whether or not, in these instances I quote, adopt them. These are well researched & represent the opinion of most of the member states. Some make very interesting reading, I really wonder why our Government at Could it be money is wasted elsewhere, it certainly could. As follows Local authorities, by establishing the conditions for a safe environment around schools (i.e. traffic NOTE ITS STATES UPPER LEVELS NOT THE MINIMUM BUT THE MAXIMUM. MOST LA USE THE MINIMUM This is EU policy on good Practice Measure Better definition of bus stops, pedestrian paths, school routes and trips Not only the vehicle and the time of usage of the vehicle is an important factor for improving the road safety in school transport – also the redesign, definition, visibility for other users of the traffic system is important. Several accidents (including the more severe ones) do not occur inside the vehicle but in the vicinity of the stops. Most of the schools do not dispose of parking areas, so the conditions around the access points (both for public and private vehicles) should be (re)designed in order to increase visibility and safety Based on the good practices identified in several countries, establish the requirements and conditions that should be observed in the areas nearby schools, including the stops, pedestrian paths, traffic signals and traffic calming measures, etc. Legislation and regulation are also enforcing measures that are commonly used in countries outside the EU to increase safety. An example is the stopping law in Canada and the United States establishing that when a school bus stops to load or unload passengers, other vehicles must stop and keep a distance of at least 20 meters. Drivers risk high penalties when passing school buses during loading and unloading. Other good examples are given by the presence of school patrols and the presence of the police during the arrival and exit times, enabling a better control of traffic and the passage of children. ................................... The Ministry of Transportation in Ontario (CAN) has set up a list with required vehicle characteristics that school buses should meet. Examples of these requirements are: - Bright yellow colour of school buses to be very conspicuous and recognizable - Flashing upper lights to show other drivers that the bus has stopped and is loading or unloading passengers. It is a sign for other vehicles to stop. - Stop arm, that supports the flashing lights to make clear to other vehicles that they should not be passing the stopping school bus. Sound reversing indicators devices are already compulsory for vehicles for goods transport over 3,5 tons in all member states of the European Union, so all the technology is available. The use of an additional mirror at the rear of a minivan to avoid blind spots is compulsory in Austria.
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AS WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED Statistical vagueness is particularly limitative to a good knowledge of accident rates in the children's transport. In the majority of countries, information on accidents does not distinguish school transport. [This includes the UK ] Even for accidents with children such distinction is only made taking into account the age group (most of the countries consider all incidents up to 15 or 18 years old an accident with children) This is EU policy on good practice ................................. 3 FOR 2 SEATING RECOMMENDATIONS In school buses, some progress is already visible in some countries, in particular in what concerns the abolition of the 3 children in two seats rule and the obligation to use seat belts (so no one stands):
In Austria, every child has to have its own seat including a restraint system in all small buses and coaches; In Portugal, the new regulation (in discussion) for school transport obliges to the existence of safety belts in all seats and prohibit the rule of 3 in 2 seats: In Ireland and UK the rule of 3 in 2 will be abolished by 2006 and new vehicles will need to be fitted with seat belts for all passengers.
IF YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY IS USING THIS DISGUSTING PRACTICE.
YOU NEED TO BE ASKING QUESTIONS
In Sweden, school transport legislation is under revision and measures include the obligation of seat belts. Besides, in case of tendering the service, responsible authorities can impose conditions.
The main objective is to raise the public awareness
(especially that of parents) of the danger generated by the situation of standing children. in school transport.
Therefore public campaigns and additional information in schools will be the best way to develop the awareness for necessity of this measure.
Raising the budget of school transport budget by public authorities will also be necessary to increase the number of transport opportunities to reduce the rate of occupancy per vehicle.
The claim for every children’s own seat in buses outside
urban agglomerations will particularly prevent children from injuries as a consequence of hard breaking manoeuvres (emergency breaks etc.).
Combined with the need of restraint systems in school buses these two actions are the most effective way to improve safety for school children during transport in the vehicle.
This measure should be accompanied by the actions of
raising the budget for school transport(to increase the number of opportunities/buses) and the enforcement by the police for the adherence to the safety rules.
Within this measure the necessity of special school
transport vehicles is additionally clarified and it will only be possible to be implemented in special school transport, but not in mixed or public transport.
This is EU policy on good practice
A different set of measures can be implemented such as:
THIS IS EU POLICY ON GOOD PRACTICE another listed under possible measures is Mandatory stopping of other vehicles approaching a school bus at a bus stop from both directions ................................... Increased safety for children by reducing the number of accidents, fatalities and injuries on the way to and from bus stops and walking route to school. Research done by the ETSC confirms that the implementation of 30km/h zones nearby schools combined with other physical measures (such as road humps, elevated crossings) can have considerable impacts on safety: the probability of a pedestrian .................................... Measure Necessity of accompanying young children It is known that the simultaneous presence of a large number of kids in a close space without vigilance could facilitate confrontational behaviour. Simultaneously, and particularly in youngest groups, the boarding, alighting and crossing street movements is OUR STAND HAS ALWAYS BEEN MONITORS ON BUSES, WE WERE TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE NO LEGAL RIGHT TO STOP TRAFFIC - WELL PUT A LOLLIPOP PERSON ON BOARD- THEY HAVE THE RIGHT - WE ARE SURE IT COULD ALSO BE EXTENDED TO OTHERS I ASKED ABOUT THIS IN 2004, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE, I ASKED IF PARENTS COULD HELP ABOARD THE BUS, AGAIN TOLD NO, INSURANCE WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE, NOR WOULD BUS COMPANIES ALLOW IT? When the driver is alone and needs to help children in those movements, other pupils are left alone inside the vehicle and this also represents a potential danger (i.e. release of the brakes). AH ! OUR DRIVERS ARE INSTRUCTED NOT TO LEAVE THEIR SEATS, GREAT IF A CHILD NEEDS FIRST AID - CAN DRIVERS GIVE IT, IF NOT WHY NOT? BUT THEN WOULD THEY BE ACCUSED OF CHILD ASSUALT- NOT IF ANOTHER ADULT WAS ON BOARD YOU CAN SEE THE MESS SOME OF OUR H&S LAWS HAVE GOT US IN, Objective To encourage the presence of an adult, besides the driver, in school transport. This person should be responsible for the surveillance inside the vehicle and a facilitator for the boarding movements. In most of the surveyed countries such presence is legally imposed. Besides acting as a dissuasive aspect (to discourage bad behaviour), such a person is responsible for the boarding movements. Equally he/she acts as a facilitator in case of problems. The presence of an additional adult besides the driver is also related with the age and number of pupils in vehicle. In Spain such presence is mandatory if 50% of seats are occupied by minors of 12 years old. In Portugal such presence will be mandatory in all vehicles (however in vehicles below 9 places and none of child below 8 years old, this rule is waived). An alternative good practice to the presence of an adult in the vehicles to discourage bad behaviour was found in UK. In the yellow bus trials CCTV systems have been installed with the aim to maintain discipline and reduce bullying. This measure was appreciated by operators, schools and pupils. The awareness that the system was working had impacts in students behaviour as demonstrated in the experience from Darland school. Possible Measures Possible measures include: • Create mechanisms to oblige traffic stopping during boarding times (see measures towards a better definition of bus stops above) Impacts Teaching children aged 5-12 the right way to cross a road can reduce the number of accidents by around 10%. The presence of school crossing patrols can contribute to a reduction of 3 km/h in car speed. YOU CAN FIND THE DETAILS HERE http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved
Site Last Updated - 08/09/2010
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