Seatbelts on school buses

The Beattie Government has identified the safety of students travelling to and from school as one of the most important issues for both parents and communities.

In 2003, a trial of seatbelts on school buses was conducted in response to recommendations made by the independent School Transport Safety Task Force and the Interdepartmental Working Group.

The trial involved fitting ADR68/00 seats and seat belts to 12 school buses throughout Queensland operating on long steep and very steep bus routes – where standing passengers are currently not permitted. The buses involved in the trial were split into either a low, medium or high encouragement group in order to measure the effect of education on seat belt wearing rates and student behaviour in the buses.

The aim of this trial was to identify and develop solutions for a range of legal, behavioural and operational issues before further consideration for inclusion in the Queensland school bus fleet.

The evaluation of the trial, which ran for six months, was conducted by the independent transport research organisation ARRB Transport Research. The key aim of the evaluation was to establish seat belt usage rates and identify the impact of seat belts on student behaviour.

The School Transport Safety Interdepartmental Working Group has been reconvened to examine the results of the trial and further investigate issues such as legal responsibility and compliance. The taskforce will provide recommendations by April 2004.

Other initiatives implemented as a direct result of the School Transport Safety Task Force include:

§       Development of the School Environment Safety Guidelines to help local schools and communities to improve safety around schools;

§       Safe Communities Trial to assist school based community groups through facilitating, engaging and observing these groups as they considered transport safety issues in their local community;

§       Increased school transport safety public education to improve road safety for children travelling to and from school;

§       SchoolBUS (School Bus Upgrade Scheme), which provides $3 million each year to help school bus operators across Queensland progressively upgrade their fleets; and

§       Launch and implementation of the Managing Student Behaviour Training Package for school bus operators.

Clare Gillic
Electorate Officer for
Barbara Stone MP
State Member for Springwood
Phone : 3808 4219
Fax : 3208 9632                                                           (TOP)

Kim Bax's response to Barbara Stone - sent on the 31st January 2004:-                           (TOP)

You neither acknowledge or answer the questions I asked in my original correspondence - so for the benefit of your electors (and most importantly, for the benefit of the children who use school transport in your electorate), I'll ask those questions again:-

• Have you read the full text of Professor Joubert's letter (available at www.geocities.com/seatbelts2004 )  ?  Professor Joubert is the author of all the current Australian Design Rules (in relation to interstate coaches), he's been awarded the Order of Australia in relation to his services to engineering and he headed the committees in the wake of the Kempsey/Grafton bus crash horror (1989 - 52 dead, many more horribly injured).

• Do you unequivocally support the FULL implementation of the recommendations of the Queensland "Task Force" within the life of the next Parliament (2004/2007)?

• In what practical ways do you (or have already), intend to support/advocate for the full implementation of "Task Force" recommendations? (e.g., for instance, speaking in parliament, writing letters, serving on committees etc.)

In reading your correspondence of 30th January 2004, I am very much reminded of the comedy skit that sometimes graces the end of the ABC's "7.30" Report, (John Clark and Phillip Dawes).  They parody that typical (and infuriating), political response - you know, the one where the politician answers everything but the question that was put to them.  That scenario is very funny - but it is also extremely sad, and goes a long way towards illustrating (in a very stark way), why many people have lost faith in politicians. The residents of Springwood deserve a GREAT deal better from you when it comes to the safety of their children.

From what I can gather, you are a highly educated and intelligent woman.  Can I suggest you read my original correspondence more carefully - so as to provide a thoughtful, personal and considered response - one that acknowledges and addresses the questions that have actually been put to you.

I look forward to your further response.

Regards - Kim Bax (mum)

PS - I assume that Clare Gillick, your employee, is very able and conscientious - however, this issue demands your PERSONAL attention (not to mention interest).  Warren Pitt, your colleague (Member for Mulgrave), took the time to phone me at home last week.  It was 8pm in the evening, and he'd already had a frantically busy day in his electorate - but then Warren has had intimate experience of this issue. He knows what it's like for a community to pull 8 dead kids out of a school bus (and 12 mutilated ones).  Gordonvale, electorate of Mulgrave, 1987.  I hope to God you never learn the hard way to pay attention to this issue.                      (TOP)

4 weeks later, on the 28th February 2004, Barbara Stone had still not replied to Kim Bax's email of 31st January 2004 - so Kim Bax sent Barbara a reminder:-                                (TOP)

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