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
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
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
§ Launch and implementation of the Managing Student Behaviour Training Package for school bus operators.
Electorate Officer for
Barbara Stone MP
State Member for Springwood
Phone : 3808 4219
Fax : 3208 9632
This is Barabara Stone MP - member for Springwood. Click on the picture to email her.
She is on the Legislative Committee for Transport and Main Roads.
(Note:- 4 weeks later, on the 28th February 2004, Barbara had still not replied to the correspondence below - and a reminder notice was sent. It can be accessed by clicking HERE)
Dear Barabara,
Thankyou for your email to me of 30th January 2004 (or rather, your employees email).
I must confess, that as I read the various responses from parliamentary representatives, I am struck by two things.
Firstly, the word "various" is a misnomer. I appear to be receiving the the same rote response culled (I assume), from Party head office, from several members - yourself included. The electors of Springwood deserve a great deal better from you - especially when it comes to the lives of their children.
Secondly, I have acute memories of flunking the ocassional exam at school - not because I didn't have the information or wasn't able to write - but because I didn't answer the question that was on the exam paper. In other words, I went off on my own little tangent, completely ignoring what had actually been asked. After doing this a few times, I learnt to pay closer attention, and improved my score. Have you ever been there and done that? Did you ever learn to pay closer attention to what had actually been asked of you? In reading your response of 30th January 2004, I'm having some doubts . . . . . . . . . .
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.