A LOCAL MP has renewed calls for Government action on school minibus safety after the issue was left out of a new road safety strategy.
Sarah Edwards challenged the Minister for Local Transport during a House of Commons debate.
The MP for Tamworth – which includes Whittington, Fazeley, Shenstone and Stonnall – said measures were urgently needed to ensure pupils travelling by minibus were being kept safe.
She said:
“Although I welcome the road safety strategy, it sadly ignores school minibus safety, despite my raising this issue with the department last year.
“I have been campaigning with my constituents Liz and Steve Fitzgerald since 2023, following the tragic loss of their daughter Claire in a minibus accident.
“Private schools follow strict O-licence rules, yet state schools can rely on weaker Section 19 permits.”
Claire Fitzgerald was just 13 when she died alongside 11 other pupils and their teacher after a school minibus crashed on the M40 near Warwick in 1993. Only two students survived.
Her parents have recently joined the MP for a visit to the Department of Education to press for reform.
Their campaign has been backed by the NASUWT teachers’ union which ofund that almost a quarter of teachers reported feeling tired while driving a school minibus, while 16% said they had driven vehicles without having any formal training.
Ms Edwards said:
“Every child deserves to be safe when travelling to and from school. Claire’s story is a tragic reminder of what can happen when safety standards are inadequate – and it is clear that 30 years later safety around school minibus use is still inconsistent.
“I am determined to keep pushing for change alongside Liz and Steve, NASUWT and colleagues across Parliament until the law properly protects all children travelling in school minibuses.”
