About the campaign . . . .
"The evidence for seatbelts is overwhelming and the deaths of 11 people in the Mount Tamborine crash of a decade ago shows the possibly terrible consequences of inaction" - Extract of a "Sunday Mail" (Qld.) editorial in 2000
In the year 2000, two "ordinary mums" from Beaudesert Shire - Kim Limburg and Kim Bax - headed a concerted campaign AGAINST our kids standing on school buses (an extraordinarily dangerous practise), and FOR seatbelts.
In the final week of the last Queensland state election (2001), the "Two Kims" literally camped on Peter Beattie's office steps (George Street, Brisbane) to push the issue.
On the final day before polling, Beattie announced the "Queensland School Bus Safety Task Force." This ran for 6 months and was composed of a number of community representatives and safety experts. It finally recommended, amongst other things, the introduction (over time), of seatbelts on Queenland's school buses.
Now, over 4 years after "the two Kim's" began their campaign, NOTHING has changed. The SAME number of standing kids are crammed into school buses - and even now, NO steps have been taken to begin the introduction of seatbelts (DESPITE the recommendations of the "Task Force").
Many people might conclude that Beattie's "School Bus Safety Task Force" was a cynical election ploy - in other words, a strategy typical of politicians when they want to delay, avoid and/or take the steam out of an issue - HOLD AN INQUIRY.
This is not good enough for our children. The reform of inter-state buses (which are now required to have seatbelts), was written in the blood of the victims of the horrific Kempsey and Grafton coach accidents (1989). The reform of Queensland's school buses must NOT be written in the aftermath of more carnage. The coroner (Kempsey & Grafton), says it best:-
“It is obvious from the literature that surveys on this and other subjects have been made and rejected. It is regrettably true that it often takes a major catastrophe to precipitate Government and Government authorities into action. Matters of cost and inconvenience often have been allowed to take precedence over matters of personal safety. Promising suggestions are deflected for investigation elsewhere and largely forgotten.”
As if to ironically underline these comments, the Queensland Transport Minister has now instigated "seatbelt trials" after the "Task Force" - as if, in the year 2004, we really need to test their efficacy. These trials will probably replicate the American experience and research - that teenagers are initially resistant to wearing seatbelts on school buses. No doubt, this will be used as ammunition against reform. But the Americans have also shown us other things - OLDER KIDS NEED TO BE EDUCATED (there are programmes available) - and younger kids easily get used to seatbelts and continue the habit.
NO MORE "INQUIRES" !
NO MORE "TASK FORCES" !
NO MORE "SEAT-BELT TRIAL'S" !
KIDS FIRST - SAFETY FIRST !