No mandatory reflective belt, more than 3,000 ghost students or lack of accompanying persons. Criticism of safety in school transport is raining. The Walloon MEP, Valerie returned to the charge in Parliament to the Minister Carlo Di Antonio (transport and mobility).
For the liberal parliamentarian, it is essential “to drastically improve the security of school transport.” Four points must change to improve the safety of school transportation. First, make wearing a seatbelt mandatory. Second, impose the presence of a fluorescent safety vest in each bus for each child. Tertian set up a school bus evacuation plan and make sure that it is well communicated to users. Quarto, permanently offer children a secure waiting area.
In Parliament, she asks the minister about the four proposals explained above. “Can the minister tell me where he is in this reflection; is there a project to improve safety inside but also outside school buses?” Minister Carlo Di Antonio (CDH) replied that the different Tec have already carried out here and there some actions to improve the situation. Let us mention the training given in schools. “During this initiation, an instructor will teach the students the proper way to evacuate a large vehicle, emergency plans in coordination with the rescue services have been set up in two provinces, and a third experiment is planned in preparation”, explains the minister.
Regarding the yellow reflective vests, the Tec, with the approval of the Minister, opted for a smaller model, the reflective cuff. It will be provided “to students attending school circuits, as part of an awareness campaign on how to equip themselves when traveling in the dark.” The Minister concludes that security will be reinforced in the new specifications, “including mandatory wearing of seat belts.”