A grandfather who has spent years campaigning for school bus safety improvements was celebrating last night after one of his proposals was implemented.
Ron Beaty is delighted bus companies have been told they must attach more prominent warning signs to the back of vehicles to alert drivers that children are getting on and off when they are stationary.
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson was joined by pupils from Inverurie’s Strathburn Primary at Aberdeenshire Council’s offices in Aberdeen yesterday for the announcement.
The MSP for Banff and Buchan also unveiled new guidance for all local authorities on pick-up and drop-off points for children to try to prevent accidents.
Mr Beaty, from Gardenstown, who has been campaigning for improvements to school bus safety since his 12-year-old granddaughter, Erin, was hit by a car in 2004 and left paralysed, said he was pleased his efforts have proved to be “worthwhile”.
“Nobody knew, as far as I know, that there was no minimum size for a school bus sign,” he added.
“It was only until we started this campaign that these things have come to the fore, which is good news,” he added.
Mr Beaty first raised a petition calling for safety improvements at the Scottish Parliament in 2006, to no avail.
He was given fresh impetus to act last year after the deaths of Fraserburgh Academy pupil Alexander Milne, 12, and Robyn Oldham, 15, from Birkenhills, near Turriff, in September.
Both youngsters, who died weeks apart, were knocked down by cars moments after stepping off school buses.
Mr Stevenson said the Scottish Government wanted to do everything possible to prevent further deaths.
Bus stop safety technology known as SeeMe, which warns drivers to exercise extreme caution when school buses are in operation, is currently on trial for six months in the north-east.
Mr Beaty wants the system installed in every bus stop across the country.
Mr Stevenson said: “We don’t currently have any powers over road safety legislation, but following a meeting with bereaved parents and Mr Beaty, I gave a commitment that we would look at what more we could do using our devolved powers to improve safety even further.
“The new, more visible bus sign for bus companies and new guidance for all local authorities on pick-up and drop-off points for school pupils we have announced will undoubtedly help improve school bus safety.”
Mr Stevenson said there is a “heavy emphasis” on school bus safety in the government’s 10-year road safety strategy, which was launched yesterday.