Seatbelts on school buses

 

From Mrs. Kim Bax

 

Goodmorning,

 

I'm just an "ordinary mum" with school-age children, living in Beaudesert Shire.  In the run up to the last State election a friend (Mrs. Kim Limburg, another mum), and myself successfully pressured the Government into looking at school bus/travel safety.  We also had the support of the Queensland Police Union, the Australian Medical Association Queensland and the Queensland Law Society.

 

Unfortunately, that's all Queensland Transport have done e.g., look at it.  The Government's own "Queensland School Transport Safety Task Force" (which recommended, amongst other things, the introduction of seatbelts on school buses over a 15-year period), has now been superseded by "Seat belt Trials." 

 

This is an excellent idea if the purpose is to discover (for example), the best type of seatbelt to use and how to overcome any problems that may be encountered.  However, in the year 2004, we do not need to re-discover whether or not seatbelts work - neither should the Government be second-guessing the findings/recommendations of the "Task Force."  In the words of the coroner in the aftermath of the horrific Kempsey and Grafton coach crashes (1989 - 52 dead):-

 

“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.”

 

I would be extremely grateful if you could insert the following notice into your next school newsletter:-

 

"Seatbelts save lives even on school buses.  Find out more about the campaign to protect kids at www.oocities.org/seatbelts2004    or phone Kim 5543 1796 (mobile o41 270 8451)"

 

All the best - Kim Bax

 

77 Orion Road,

Cedar Grove,

Qld. 4285