Putting on a seatbelt is not only the law but an instinctive reaction when we get into our cars. However, it takes a tragedy involving a school bus to highlight the need for better safety standards on the vehicles that transport our children to school every day.
In Queensland, seatbelts in some school buses are not compulsory, which is a concern, given how far some students travel to school in remote communities.
A report released last week in New South Wales recommended seatbelts for all rural and regional school student bus travel operating outside lower speed urban environments.
Compulsory seatbelts in buses for regional school travel is a commonsense solution supported by experts and community groups who have been calling for these changes for many years.
It’s time to put the safety of some of our most vulnerable and youngest Queenslanders ahead of the costs and politics of this issue.
Luke Short
