New mandates to enforce seatbelt wearing on school buses amid Eynesbury horror

Victorian schools are sending out notices to parents advising them of updated policies including the enforcement of seatbelts on school buses.

Victorian schools are updating their policies to make it compulsory for all students to wear seatbelts on buses in the wake of last week’s horror bus crash in Eynesbury.

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed the desperate pleas from safety advocates who want tougher rules for school buses because students are not legally required to wear seatbelts.
At least 12 government and independent schools have sent out notices to parents advising them of updated policies including the enforcement of seatbelts being worn on school buses and new risk management plans.

The Department of Transport and Planning recommends “as a minimum children should use the seatbelts provided” although there is no provision for any adult to make sure they do so.

The responsibility lies with the passenger, not the driver, to ensure they wear a seat belt.

Crash scene investigators continue their investigation while emergency services pick up school bags from the scene in Eynesbury. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Safe Transport Victoria is currently reviewing rules which require seatbelts to be fitted and worn on school buses, but there is no legal enforcement.

St Therese’s Primary School in Essendon last week had many inquiries from concerned parents asking about the school’s policy on seatbelts on buses for travel for excursions.

“Previously the policy outlined strategies to mitigate risk when travelling by bus relating to the bus route travelled and the age of students. This has since been reviewed and updated,” a letter to parents said.

“The school will only send students for school based activities offsite on buses that are fitted with seatbelts. If this is not possible then alternative travel arrangements will be made and or the excursion will not go ahead.”

The school may also increase levies to cover the costs associated with school travel.

Albanvale Primary principal Michael Uzunovski said the school had updated its policies, with risk management plans now enacted and approvals required from the school’s council for excursions.

A young Exford Primary School student involved in the collision is comforted by a loved one. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“All bus travel is through reputable and tested providers and a conscious effort is made to arrange buses with seat belts for every passenger,” Mr Uzunovski said in a newsletter.

“We will continue to make student safety and wellbeing our priority and search for ways to strengthen our practices.”

The tightened seatbelt policies come as more is emerging about how Lisa Campo, the principal of Exford Primary, managed the issue at her school.

According to one parent, Ms Campo is “the person who is the reason there were not more injuries on that bus”.

The father said he and his wife had three children who attended the school and “watched every day after school, before the bus down to Eynesbury left, Lisa would get on the bus, walk the aisle, and ensure that everyone was wearing their seatbelt”.

“All the bus drivers knew not to leave till Lisa had checked off all the names of the kids getting on, so she knew exactly who was on the bus, and had done her seatbelt check,” the father said.

Exford Primary School principal Lisa Campo is the reason more students weren’t seriously injured in the collision at Eynesbury, according to parents. Picture: Mark Stewart

Catholic Education Commission of Victoria executive director Jim Miles said the commission “strongly supported” the move to mandate seatbelts for students in all buses as quickly as possible.

“This includes changes to provisions around the enforcement and monitoring of seatbelt wearing by bus drivers,” he said.

“In the meantime, individual Catholic school authorities will make their own decisions based on local community needs, and we applaud their efforts to improve the safety of their students and staff, including via transport.”

As of March 2023, there are now 1143 of 1365 dedicated free regional school buses across Victoria with seatbelts installed.

All school buses are expected to be fitted with seat belts by the end of next year.