Safety on Learner Transport (Wales) Measure 2011

Member in charge: Ieuan Wyn Jones AM - Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport

Date of introduction: 20 September 2010

Date of Royal Approval: 10 May 2011

This Measure makes amendments to the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 in order to address the Welsh Government’s objective of improving the safety image and travel experiences of dedicated school transport and to ensure that safety standards are sufficiently high for the public and parents to have confidence in dedicated learner transport.

To achieve these aims, the Measure enables Welsh Ministers to make regulations that place duties on local authorities or a governing body of a maintained school to:

• Fit appropriate seat belts; 
• Use only single deck vehicles; 
• Use buses manufactured after a certain date;
• Fit CCTV cameras on buses; 
  Use vehicles which meet the “yellow buses” specification; 
• Provide the relevant standards of driver training; 
• Carry out safety risk assessments; 
• Provide staff to supervise school buses; and 
• Provide specifications in relation to taxis and private hire vehicles.

In order to ensure compliance with these duties, the Measure also enables Welsh Ministers to:

• Create criminal offences for breaches of the safety regulations by providers of learner transport who fail to meet the prescribed requirements;
• Create a civil sanctions regime for breaches of the safety regulations by providers of learner transport who fail to meet the prescribed requirements;
• Establish and enforcement body to enforce regulations; and 
• Establish a tribunal for appeals.

Measure as Introduced -20 September 2010

Explanatory Memorandum at Introduction

On 21 September 2010, the Business Committee agreed, in accordance with standing orders, to refer the proposed Measure to Legislation Committee No. 4, to consider and report on the general principles.

Stage 1 consideration by the Legislation Committee No. 4

Stage 1 report on the proposed Safety on Learner Transport (Wales) Measure 2011- 16 December 2010

Stage 2 Consideration by the Legislation Committee No. 4

Stage 3 & Stage 4 Consideration was in Plenary on 22 March 2011

Measure as enacted (legislation.gov.uk)