Members of the Scottish Parliament have unanimously backed plans forcing all school buses to be fitted with seatbelts.
Currently, legislation leaves it up to Scotland’s 32 local authorities to decide whether or not buses taking pupils to and from school are required to be equipped with seatbelts. Half of the authorities have put this requirement in place.
Earlier this year, SNP MSP Gillian Martin introduced a Member’s Bill to make seatbelts a legal requirement. There was cross-party support for the proposals, and the bill was passed 102 votes to 0.
In a bid to make it more affordable to councils and operators, the new law will be staggered, coming into effect next year for vehicles transporting primary school children, and in 2021 for those carrying secondary school pupils.
