Safe School Travel.......Schhol Board Travel Book

Introduction

by Calum MacDonald MP

Minister for Housing, Transport and European Affairs at the Scottish Office

It is a pleasure to have been asked by the Scottish School Board Association to provide the foreword for this reprint of the Safe School Travel Code. This booklet is an excellent publication which covers a vital area of road safety.

The Code is aimed at pupils as they travel between home and school whether by walking or cycling, by service bus or school bus, or by car. This is an area where the Government is taking the lead by encouraging and pursuing projects and policies which promote safer travel to school.

In 1997, 575 school children were involved in accidents on their way to or from school - that was a reduction from more than 600 in 1993, but still represents about 18 percent of the total casualty accidents involving children of school age. That number is far too high and everyone involved in road safety and education must play their part in reducing these figures. 1 am determined that we will cut this tragic toll.

Working in partnership is important in achieving this goal, and The Scottish Office was delighted to work with the SSBA in the preparation for the first edition of the Code. One of the real strengths of the booklet is that it is not just aimed at pupils, but also at parents, school staff and school bus operators. It recognises the safety of our children when travelling to school is a responsibility we must all share.

I applaud the SSBA for keeping this valuable Code up to date and welcome the sound advice it contains for all pupils, parents and teachers.



Responsibilities of Pupils, Parents and Schools

Getting from Home to School or to Bus Stop/Pickup Point


At the Bus Stop / Taxi Pick-up Point


On the Bus/Taxi
  • Have the right money, or your bus pass ready.
  • Sit still and do up your seat belt, if there is one.
  • Make sure you know where the emergency exits are so that you can calmly leave the bus should there be an emergency.
  • Do not open or play with emergency doors or windows.
  • Always do exactly as the driver/escort tells you.
  • Treat other people with respect.

Cycling to the Bus Stop / Pick-up Point or to School


Arriving at School

Walking to the Bus Stop / Pick-up Point or to School


Travelling from the Bus Stop / Pick-up Point to Home


Cycling to the Bus Stop / Pick-up Point


Driving your Child to and from School


Schools can assist in the operation of a safe and efficient transport service by:


School Transport

The journey from home to school may consist of various different individual components. Most children either walk, cycle or are driven to school by parents, and the specific safety implications of getting to/from school by these modes are dealt with in other sections of this booklet.

The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 places a legal responsibility on Local Education Authorities to enable the attendance of children living beyond specified maximum distances from school, these being for children under the age of 8 years living more than 2 miles and children age 8 years and over living more than 3 miles from their zoned school.

There is no specific requirement that Local Authorities must provide school transport. They could satisfy their legal obligations by providing either a means of getting from home to school, such as a bicycle, or an allowance for parents to make their own arrangements. However, Local Authorities provide daily home to school transport for most entitled children.

Statutory school transport is provided by a variety of means, including ferries, planes, trains and even hovercraft, but the majority of entitled pupils are transported by bus, coach or taxi/private hire car.

The most common forms of statutory school transport provision are summarised below:

Hired school transport-

Usually consists of the authority hiring a vehicle for the specific purpose of transporting children from home to school, through a contract with a suitably qualified taxi, private hire car or bus operator. On these services, pupils not entitled to free transport may apply to use, free of charge, spare seats not required by entitled pupils. These so called "privilege" or "concession" places only exist until required by an entitled pupil.

Season ticket-

  • Where the authority purchases a ticket for pupils to travel on public bus or rail services.
  • Joint School/Local Bus Contract-

  • Where the authority contracts a vehicle to provide both a school transport and a public bus facility. On these services, non-entitled pupils are deemed to be travelling as members of the general public and are required to pay the appropriate fare, while entitled pupils usually have a season ticket which is purchased by the authority.
  • Local Authority Vehicle-

  • Where the Local Authority owns its own vehicle fleet. While most authorities own and operate minibuses they can operate vehicles ranging in capacity up to a full size bus. The "privilege" rule applies on most of these services, although authorities can also operate their own vehicles as joint school/local bus services and charge fares to non-entitled pupils and other members of the general public.
  • Parental Contract-

  • Where the authority enters into an agreement under which parents are paid an allowance to transport their own children, either to school or to an agreed collection point where they transfer to/from other transport provision. This arrangement normally applies in remote or difficult terrain where access may be difficult or uneconomic.
  • Well over 90% of statutory Local Authority school transport is provided using external contractors' vehicles. Your Local Authority is likely to make use of a number and possibly all of the above alternatives, depending upon local circumstances.

    Many Local Authorities have enhanced school transport provision beyond the minimum requirements of legislation, for example, by reducing the statutory qualifying walking distance criteria. The distance between home and school is usually measured using the shortest available pedestrian route.

    Local Authorities are not required to provide "door to door" transport. Whilst transport is usually provided as close to the home as practical, children may be expected to walk anything up to the legally specified or policy maximum walking distance to/from the transport pick-up point. Parents are responsible for this part of the journey.

    In addition to those who qualify for school transport on grounds of distance from school, pupils may also qualify on grounds of special circumstances such as medical, psychological and educational needs or on safety grounds.

    Children with special educational needs do not automatically qualify for special transport arrangements. So far as possible, they are integrated with mainstream education and transport arrangements. Some children, however, will require special transport arrangements because of medical circumstances or because they have special educational needs.

    Children with special transport needs will normally be individually assessed so that transport is designed for their personal needs. This may include door-to-door transport, special car seats, transport in a wheelchair equipped minibus or the provision of an escort. If you are concerned that your child needs special arrangements which are not being met, you should discuss the problem in the first instance with the head teacher at your school.

    The above is a general guide to the provision of statutory school transport by and on behalf of Local Education Authorities. Further information on individual policies and practices governing the provision and operation of school transport in your area can be obtained from the contacts listed at the end of this booklet.


    It should be noted that in cases of extreme or persistent misbehaviour, the Authorities reserve the right to suspend free travel facilities.

    School transport arrangements will then become the responsibility of the parents.


    Transport Operators - Drivers

    This section deals with good practice and the responsibilities of drivers of taxis, minibuses and large buses providing home to school transport. Many local authorities already issue drivers and contractors with a Code of Good Practice covering in detail most of the points listed below.

    Most vehicles of up to 8 seats carrying pupils from home to school should be licensed as Taxis or Private Hire Cars, and drivers also require a specific licence issued by the District Council to drive them. Most vehicles of 9 seats or more should be licensed as Public Service Vehicles and drivers require to hold a vocational licence to drive these vehicles.

    Drivers deemed to have "substantial opportunity for access" to children may also require to be vetted by the local authority for any previous criminal convictions.

    Drivers of home to school transport would be expected to adhere to the following:

    Parents should remember that while the driver bears much responsibility for the safety of the pupils, the parents remain responsible for the behaviour of their children at all times. Pupils must therefore follow the instructions of the driver at all times to make sure that their safety is not compromised.


    Transport Operators - Escorts

    Escorts are employed on many vehicles carrying pupils with special education needs. Occasionally they may also be used on specific mainstream contracts if deemed appropriate by the Local Authority.

    The escort, in conjunction with the driver, should ensure the security, safety, dignity and comfort of pupils in their care. Whilst the escort's primary responsibility is to deal with pupils, the driver and escort must always work as a team.

    Regardless of the type of transport (mainstream or special education), escorts should ensure some or all of the following:

    The escort should assist the driver in:


    Transport Operators - Contractors

    The Local Authority's Conditions of Contract or Good Practice Codes applicable to school transport provided by hired contractors should place the following responsibilities on the contractor:


    If you are dissatisfied

    This section offers advice on what to do if you have reason to complain about the school transport services provided:

    When you have a complaint:

    Who to contact:

     

    Publications


    Useful Addresses

    Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers, Scotland and Northern Ireland
    Gordon Hanning, Representative for School Transport,
    Fife Council,
    Public Transport Division, Transportation Service,
    North Street,
    Glenrothes,
    Fife,
    KY7 SLT

    Tel:- 01592 413 105


    Scottish School Board Association
    Newall Terrace
    Dumfries
    DGI ILW

    Tel:- (01387) 260 428 / 260 488
    Fax:- (01387) 260 428
    Email:-
    ssba @ schoolboard-scotland . com


    Scottish Office Education Department
    Scottish Office
    Victoria Quay
    Edinburgh
    EH6 6QQ

    Tel:- (0131) 556 8400


    Further information about the Association in England and Wales can be obtained from the Secretary..

    Trevor Dobson
    Transport Co-ordination Service
    Cheshire County Council
    North Rivacre Business Centre
    Ellesmere Port
    L66 3TL

    Tel:- (0124) 460 3041

    Scottish Road Safety Campaign
    Heriot-Watt Research Park,
    Riccarton Mill Lane
    Edinburgh
    EH14 4AP

    Tel:- (0131) 472 9200
    Fax:- (0131) 472 9201

    Confederation of Passenger Transport UK Department of Transport
    Imperial House Vehicle Standards and Engineering Division
    IS- 19 Kingsway Great Minster HouseLondon 76 Marsham Street
    WC2B 6UN London

    0171 240 3 131 SW]P4DR

    01718903000


    Published by
    Scottish School Board Association
    Newall Terrace
    Dumfries

    DGI ILW

    Reprint 1998


    Safe School Travel

    The Scottish School Board Association would like to thank the following
    for their help in producing this guide which forms part
    of their "Safe School Travel' campaign:

    Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers, Scottish Section

    BBC (Education)

    Confederation of Passenger Transport UK

    Department of Transport

    Dumfries and Galloway Police (Road Safety Unit)

    Scottish Office Education Department

    Scottish Road Safety Campaign

    Strathclyde Regional Council (Education Department)

    THE SCOTTISH OFFICE

    The Scottish Office

    Always wear a seatbelt

    Scottish Road Safety Campaign

    This publication has been sponsored by Top Class Travel,
    The Scottish Road Safety Campaign and The Scottish Office.

    © Scottish School Board Association. 1996

    ISBN 1 900673 00 2


    Publications