§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to introduce a maximum age for driving buses and coaches used for school transport.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerI see no case for maximum ages for driving, unrelated to individual fitness. School buses are often driven by public service vehicle drivers, who are subject to annual medical examinations from the age of 65. All drivers are legally required to notify DVLC of disabilities when they occur and to provide a health declaration when they renew their ordinary licences, every three years from the age of 70.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to require adult supervision of children on buses and coaches carrying children to and from school.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyNo; the supervision of schoolchildren on school buses is a matter for the local education authority in conjunction with the operator.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to require school buses and coaches to have a special colour distinguishing them from other public transport vehicles.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyNo. In the United Kingdom, buses are rarely used exclusively for the transport of schoolchildren. It would be impractical to insist on a specialised livery for vehicles used for schools services.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to make it compulsory for drivers of school buses and coaches to activate the four vehicle distress lights when halted for children to alight.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyNo. Hazard warning lights are understood as indicating the presence of a temporary384W obstruction—often a vehicle that is broken down. They could distract attention from other hazards such as a child crossing the road.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to make it compulsory for school buses and coaches to be fitted with automatic door controls.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyNo. There are already requirements for the safe control of power-operated doors. They apply to all public service vehicles.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has plans to increase the frequency of inspection of school buses and coaches as vehicles get older.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleySchool buses and coaches are subject to an annual test. I have no plans to inrease the frequency of inspections.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it mandatory for school buses to carry rear signplates conforming to sign A12 in the Vienna convention (1968), that is, a rectangular panel with black silhouettes of children on a yellow ground.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyWe have no plans to make such a sign mandatory on buses owned by schools or otherwise used for school children. Bus and coach operators may use any type of "school bus" sign when carrying out schools services. School authorities are free to specify the use of such a sign if they so wish before letting a contract.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to make it mandatory for school buses and coaches to be fitted with safety belts on front-row seats.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyWe recently circulated for comment a proposal to mandate the fitting of seat belts to the front seats of all new large coaches and minibuses. This proposal was widely supported. It will be included in regulations to be made within the next few months.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce a maximum vehicle age for school buses and coaches.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyNo. There is no maximum age prescribed for any type of vehicle but they have to pass an annual test. If a vehicle is found to be unfit, it is prohibited until the defects are cleared.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information does his Department hold on the adequacy of child passenger supervison on school buses.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThis is a matter for the local education authority in conjunction with the operator.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department has about maximum limits relating to age or mileage that other countries place on buses taking children to and from school; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellI have no information on this. The EEC roadworthiness directive requires passenger vehicles with more than eight passenger seats to pass an annual test.