MSP’s bid to toughen up seatbelt legislation

Councils will be forced to ensure dedicated school buses have seatbelts under a bill being put before MSPs.

More than half of Scotland councils already do so, including Angus and Perth and Kinross, but the legislation would compel others to follow suit.

The law would apply to vehicles including coaches and taxis used in “dedicated home-to-school transport”, rather than public bus services that councils use to ferry pupils around.

A Fife Council spokeswoman said it makes sure it is “compliant with legislation in this area and will continue to do so should the legislation change”. She added the “vast majority” of the buses they use are registered local services, which do not fall under the scope of the bill.

A spokeswoman for Dundee City Council said the legislation would not affect them because pupils in the city are transported on public buses, which also carry fare-paying adult passengers.

She said those who are on “dedicated” services relate to vulnerable children, where seatbelt laws are already in place.

Launching the seatbelts bill yesterday, Gillian Martin, the SNP MSP, said the public response has been “extremely positive and supportive”.

It is expected the legal requirement would come into effect from 2018.

Safety drive – Gillian Martin MSP has launched the bill.