Seat Belts on School Transport (Scotland) Bill

# Seat Belts on School Transport (Scotland) Bill School transport in Scotland has historically operated without mandatory seatbelt requirements for young passengers, despite seatbelts being standard safety equipment in other vehicles. This bill addresses a significant safety gap by seeking to require seatbelts on minibuses and coaches used to transport school children. The legislation responds to concerns about child safety during transit to and from educational establishments, recognising that seatbelts are proven to reduce serious injury and death in vehicle accidents, yet many school transport vehicles either lack them or their use is not compulsory. The bill introduces provisions to make seatbelts mandatory on designated school transport vehicles, establishing requirements for their installation where not already present and ensuring their use by child passengers. The legislation would apply to the relevant categories of minibuses and coaches involved in school transport operations, creating enforceable safety standards for operators. This Member's Bill represents an attempt to bring school transport safety standards into line with broader vehicle safety regulations and best practice in child protection, though its progress through the Scottish Parliament and eventual status would depend on parliamentary time and support from other members and the Scottish Government.

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