Closer attention to the use of seatbelts by pupils on home-to-school coach services looks inevitable after Senior Coroner for Liverpool and Wirral Andre Rebello wrote to Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan and Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper to air concerns about the matter.
Mr Rebello submitted a Report to Prevent Future Deaths to both ministers following a fatal crash involving a coach operating a home-to-school service on the M53 motorway on 29 September. In highlighting concerns around the possible lack of seatbelt use on that vehicle, he says that action should be taken to help prevent future deaths.
Driver Stephen Shrimpton and pupil Jessica Baker were killed in the accident. On 5 October Mr Rebello opened inquests into their deaths, although it is the hearing on Jessica that has led to his report to the two ministers that highlights concerns over seatbelts. CCTV footage from the coach in question “does not show the seatbelts were being used,” it states.
In describing the circumstances of Jessica’s death, Mr Rebello notes that the coach left the motorway to the nearside, mounted an embankment and collided with a tree.
It then pivoted and rolled down the embankment, coming to rest in the carriageway on its side. During that roll, Jessica was partially ejected from the vehicle, the report says. Mr Shrimpton is seen via CCTV to slump or fall to his left before the coach left the carriageway.
Mr Rebello adds that in his opinion, “there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.” He has requested details from Ms Keegan and Mr Harper that centre on two points of concern:
- Advice given regarding the use of seatbelts by either the Department for Education or the Department for Transport to schools and colleges when contracting home-to-school “commuter contracts”
- Public information campaigns that are being run about the additional road safety that is provided by the use of seatbelts.
Addressing Ms Keegan and Mr Harper, the Senior Coroner notes: “In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths, and I believe that you (and/or your organisation) have the power to take such action.”
A response to the report is required within 56 days of the date of issue, which was 5 October. That deadline is thus 30 November, although Mr Rebello may extend it.
The response must outline details of the action(s) taken, or proposed to be taken, to mitigate the risk of future deaths, and an accompanying timeline. If no action is proposed, then justification must be provided.
Mr Rebello makes clear that a distinction on the use of seatbelts should be drawn between “commuter coaches” travelling longer distances via A-roads and motorways on home-to-school services, and when that provision is operated by buses in built-up areas.
