Children and young people have participated in a series of focus groups to help shape the Safer Journeys to School programme, as the Department for Infrastructure moves closer to introducing new legislation to protect pupils at bus stops. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins visited Millennium Integrated Primary School in Saintfield, County Down, this week to hear directly from pupils about their experiences and concerns regarding road safety around school buses.
The engagement forms part of a wider evidence-gathering effort that includes a recent public consultation which attracted 601 responses. The Safer Journeys to School (SJS) programme was established by Minister Kimmins following tragic incidents involving children and buses, which highlighted the particular vulnerability of pupils when boarding and alighting from vehicles.
Focus Groups Give Pupils Direct Voice in Safety Planning
Four schools have participated in the focus group sessions: Millennium Integrated Primary School, Saintfield; St Genevieve’s High School, Belfast; Saintfield High School; and Cumber Claudy Primary School. The Minister visited Millennium Integrated Primary School to listen to pupils’ views firsthand as her Department develops practical measures to reduce risk.
The programme addresses what safety experts describe as the “danger zone” around buses—periods immediately before boarding and after alighting when children may need to cross roads, particularly in areas with high traffic speeds or poor visibility.
Minister Kimmins emphasised the central role of children in shaping the policy:
“Our children and young people are at the heart of the Safer Journeys to School programme. It is so important that we hear directly from them about their experiences and concerns. That’s why we have been visiting schools like Millennium – to listen carefully to those voices which will help us shape the way forward.
“Schools already do a lot to help keep pupils safe, and I want to recognise that important work today.”
Consultation Response and Legislative Timeline
The Department recently closed its public consultation on overtaking and passing buses, which ran from 26 March to 21 May 2026. The consultation sought views on a two-pillar approach:
- Pillar 1: A legislative proposal to prohibit overtaking a stationary bus in clearly defined dangerous circumstances
- Pillar 2: Options to address wider risks associated with vehicles passing buses during boarding and alighting, including from the opposite direction
A summary report based on the 601 consultation responses is expected to be published shortly. The Department will analyse these responses alongside the focus group feedback, legal advice, and operational considerations before finalising legislative proposals.
Minister Kimmins confirmed cross-departmental cooperation continues:
“My Department will continue working with partners such as the Education Authority, Translink and the PSNI to take practical steps to help make the school journey safer.”
Outstanding Questions and Considerations
While the engagement with children represents a significant step in participatory policy-making, several details remain unclear from the Department’s announcement. The specific concerns raised by pupils during the focus groups have not yet been disclosed, nor has the Department indicated precisely when draft legislation might be brought before the Assembly.
The consultation documents previously acknowledged challenges in enforcement, particularly across Northern Ireland’s diverse road environments—from busy urban routes to narrow rural lanes where passing stationary buses may present different practical difficulties.
Additionally, while the Department references working with Translink, it remains to be seen how any new laws might apply to private school transport operators or whether additional safety technology (such as stop-arm cameras used in other jurisdictions) forms part of the wider “package of measures” mentioned by officials.
Questions for Stakeholders
- How will the Department ensure that new legislative measures are equally enforceable and effective across both urban and rural road environments, given the differing traffic conditions and road layouts?
- What specific timeline can be expected for the publication of the consultation summary report and the subsequent introduction of legislation to the Assembly?
- How will the Department measure the success of the Safer Journeys to School programme once implemented—will it track collision data specifically related to bus stop incidents involving children?
- Will the proposed legislation include provisions for automated enforcement technology, such as camera systems on buses, to support PSNI enforcement efforts?
- How will the views expressed by children in these focus groups directly influence the final legislative text, rather than broader programme implementation?
What Happens Next
The Department for Infrastructure will now analyse the 601 consultation responses alongside feedback from the school focus groups. A summary report is expected to be published in the coming weeks, which will detail the public’s views on the proposed two-pillar legislative approach.
Minister Kimmins has previously committed to bringing forward legislation to prohibit overtaking school buses at bus stops, though the exact timing depends on the Assembly’s legislative programme and the complexity of drafting regulations that cover the diverse circumstances in which children board and alight from vehicles.
Parents, school staff and road safety campaigners will be watching closely for the consultation summary report, which should indicate whether the proposed measures have sufficient public support to proceed to the legislative drafting stage.