Have you ever considered who is driving your grandchild's school minibus?

Have you ever considered who is driving your child's school minibus?
2 replies

roonerboo · 08/05/2024 20:51

In November 1993, a minibus carrying young people home to a Worcestershire school from a school trip to London crashed into a lorry, killing 13 people. The trip took place after the school day and the crash occurred just after midnight. My friends Steve and Liz, lost their daughter Claire in that crash.

A teacher, or support staff member can still, thirty years later, work all day, and then drive a school minibus for long distances without further training or qualifications.

School children can still legally be transported in school mini-buses by anyone, including teachers and support staff, who do not hold any professional driving qualifications. The majority of schools do not have to have an O Licence, an Operator Licence governing vehicle, driver and passenger safety standards. They can transport pupils without this licence under the Section 19 exemption. If this exemption is removed it would ensure that – in the future all schools, State or private, would have to have an O-Licence which, effectively, increases the safety of schoolchildren and teachers travelling to and from their schools.

Please consider signing our petition.

School Minibus Safety - Remove Section 19 Exemptions for Schools - Petitions (parliament.uk)

Petition: School Minibus Safety - Remove Section 19 Exemptions for Schools

We call on the Government to remove Section 19 exemptions for schools in the Transport Act 1985, so children and young people are only driven by qualified, professional drivers, and that minibuses are maintained to commercial standards, by requiring a...

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/658541