The Sunday Mail
(Queensland, 2001)
Police Back Bus Safety Demands
By Steele Tallon
Police have thrown their weight behind parental demands for urgent upgrades to school bus safety.
Officers fear a bad accident on an over-crowded school bus could make the 1990 Mount Tamborine crash - which killed 11 and injured 40 - look like a "tea party.
The Queensland Police Union has joined the State's lawyers, doctors and parents in calling for an immediate ban on children standing in school buses.
They also want seatbelts fitted to every school bus over the next decade.
Police have reported some school buses south of Brisbane carrying more than 100 children at speeds of up to 100 kmh.
One bus pulled over by police was so overloaded its doors could not close.
"The picture of an accident with unrestrained passengers, especially kids, is a horrific one," said QPU General Secretary Merv Bainbridge.
"The State Government has to look at this urgently. Just because we haven't had a serious school bus accident in Queensland for a while, doesn't mean that we're not going to get one again."
Bus Action Committee spokewoman Kim Bax said the State Government had stalled long enough on improving bus safety.
Transport Minister Steve Bredhauer was first challenged to act on the issue by Ms. Bax in The Sunday Mail in May last year.
The Australian Medical Association and Queensland Law Society have since stated their support for seatbelts and a standing ban on school buses.
"Mr. Bredhauer has told us that he's considering the problem," Ms. Bax said.
"He's just running scared from the issue. The Government doesn't want to face up to the problem."
Opposition transport spokesman Vaughn Johnson said policy would be put to shadow cabinet in Brisbane to-day allowing for the fitting of seatbelts to the State's school buses inside five years.
Standing in the aisle would also be outlawed.
Mr. Bredhauer was on holidays and unavailable for comment.
Ms. Bax said school buses should be brought up to inter sate coach standards which allowed only as many passengers as seats.
Queensland Transport rules set maximum weights for loaded buses rather than a maximum number of passengers.
The Queensland Bus Industry Council said it was far safer to travel to school by bus than in the family car.