Eddy Landzaat
2005-05-29 21:14:24 UTC
<quote>
Editorial
School bus tragedy
THE whole country was shocked by the appalling tragedy which claimed the
lives of five young girls in a school bus accident in County Meath this
week.
Investigations are continuing into the exact cause of the crash but already
it has been claimed that the lack of seat belts in the bus contributed to
the loss of lives. In the aftermath of the tragedy various questions were
asked, uppermost being do we value the safety of our schoolchildren
sufficiently?
Obviously not because the campaign to have school buses fitted with seat
belts has been on the agenda for a number of years. The Governments
response was that it would cost too much money when the Joint Oireachtas
committee on the review of school transport recommended the fitting of seat
belts six years ago.
And it was only a few weeks since the National Parents Council made another
recommendation. In appealing for seat belts to be made compulsory in school
buses, they also warned of the safety risk to children not wearing seat
belts.
The parents further appealed for someone with political will to make the
funds available to make the necessary changes.
Over 140,000 pupils use the school transport system every day but the vast
majority of buses do not have seat belts. Under law it is not an offence
not to have them fitted in standard buses even though it has been
established that seat belts in cars have saved lives.
The Bus Eireann vehicle involved in this weeks horrific accident which
stunned the nation was licensed to carry 79 children even though it has
only 53 seats. This overcrowding is permitted as three children are
allowed to sit on a two person seat.
The case was made this week that the three to two ratio did not present as
much danger in the past when buses were fitted with bench type seats.
However, buses are now fitted with individual seats making it impracticable
to have three children in two seats.
As a result pupils are left standing in buses. In addition the three to two
system does not facilitate the wearing of seat belts.
Many vehicles used in the school transport system seem to have seen the
best of their days. They are no longer suitable for ordinary service and
while the school transport system has a good safety record overall, it is
surely time to upgrade the school bus fleet.
In this day and age no parent should have to worry when saying good-bye to
their children on their way to school. After all buses are accepted as one
of the safest forms of transport.
The Association of School Teachers of Ireland also made submissions to the
Government regarding school transport. It made the case that many pupils
are the same size as adults and it was lubricious for three of them to be
made sit in a seat for two.
The bus tragedy comes at a time when different measures are being taken to
try and reduce the death toll on Irish roads. In 2004 there were 379 road
deaths in the 26 counties and the carnage continues.
One obvious safety measure would be to fit seat belts in school buses. The
Government says that it is phasing out the three pupils to two seats
system, eventually leading to seat belts but that could be a long way down
the road.
It is six years since the Government was advised to make seat belts in
school buses compulsory. Obviously the cost was a prohibiting factor,
despite the millions being squandered elsewhere.
Bron: Clare Champion (http://tinyurl.com/clg6y)
<unquote>
Het is tragisch, en ik hoop dat nu eindelijk het besef eens doordringt dat
een mensenleven meer waard is dan een paar centen...
Editorial
School bus tragedy
THE whole country was shocked by the appalling tragedy which claimed the
lives of five young girls in a school bus accident in County Meath this
week.
Investigations are continuing into the exact cause of the crash but already
it has been claimed that the lack of seat belts in the bus contributed to
the loss of lives. In the aftermath of the tragedy various questions were
asked, uppermost being do we value the safety of our schoolchildren
sufficiently?
Obviously not because the campaign to have school buses fitted with seat
belts has been on the agenda for a number of years. The Governments
response was that it would cost too much money when the Joint Oireachtas
committee on the review of school transport recommended the fitting of seat
belts six years ago.
And it was only a few weeks since the National Parents Council made another
recommendation. In appealing for seat belts to be made compulsory in school
buses, they also warned of the safety risk to children not wearing seat
belts.
The parents further appealed for someone with political will to make the
funds available to make the necessary changes.
Over 140,000 pupils use the school transport system every day but the vast
majority of buses do not have seat belts. Under law it is not an offence
not to have them fitted in standard buses even though it has been
established that seat belts in cars have saved lives.
The Bus Eireann vehicle involved in this weeks horrific accident which
stunned the nation was licensed to carry 79 children even though it has
only 53 seats. This overcrowding is permitted as three children are
allowed to sit on a two person seat.
The case was made this week that the three to two ratio did not present as
much danger in the past when buses were fitted with bench type seats.
However, buses are now fitted with individual seats making it impracticable
to have three children in two seats.
As a result pupils are left standing in buses. In addition the three to two
system does not facilitate the wearing of seat belts.
Many vehicles used in the school transport system seem to have seen the
best of their days. They are no longer suitable for ordinary service and
while the school transport system has a good safety record overall, it is
surely time to upgrade the school bus fleet.
In this day and age no parent should have to worry when saying good-bye to
their children on their way to school. After all buses are accepted as one
of the safest forms of transport.
The Association of School Teachers of Ireland also made submissions to the
Government regarding school transport. It made the case that many pupils
are the same size as adults and it was lubricious for three of them to be
made sit in a seat for two.
The bus tragedy comes at a time when different measures are being taken to
try and reduce the death toll on Irish roads. In 2004 there were 379 road
deaths in the 26 counties and the carnage continues.
One obvious safety measure would be to fit seat belts in school buses. The
Government says that it is phasing out the three pupils to two seats
system, eventually leading to seat belts but that could be a long way down
the road.
It is six years since the Government was advised to make seat belts in
school buses compulsory. Obviously the cost was a prohibiting factor,
despite the millions being squandered elsewhere.
Bron: Clare Champion (http://tinyurl.com/clg6y)
<unquote>
Het is tragisch, en ik hoop dat nu eindelijk het besef eens doordringt dat
een mensenleven meer waard is dan een paar centen...
--
Eddy Landzaat
================================================================
Altijd op zoek naar de familie Van Veen in Utrecht en Amsterdam.
Zie ook mijn website: http://www.landzaat.info
================================================================
Eddy Landzaat
================================================================
Altijd op zoek naar de familie Van Veen in Utrecht en Amsterdam.
Zie ook mijn website: http://www.landzaat.info
================================================================