Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has welcomed a substantial public response to proposals aimed at protecting children from traffic dangers when boarding and leaving school buses. The Department for Infrastructure received 601 responses to its Safer Journeys to School consultation, which closed yesterday, and will now use this evidence to shape new legislation and safety measures.
The consultation, which ran from 26 March to 21 May 2026, sought views on whether clearer rules are needed to stop drivers overtaking or passing stationary buses when children are getting on or off. The move follows several tragic incidents involving young people at bus stops, including the death of 11-year-old Caitlin-Rose McMullan in Castledawson earlier this year.
The Two-Pillar Approach
The Department is considering a two-pillar strategy to reduce risk during what officials describe as “periods of particular vulnerability” when children cross roads after leaving buses.
Pillar One would prohibit overtaking stationary buses in clearly defined dangerous circumstances. Pillar Two would regulate how drivers behave when passing buses during boarding and alighting, potentially including lower speed limits near school transport and requirements to stop when warning lights are displayed.
The consultation documents highlighted that while buses themselves are safe, the moments immediately before boarding and after alighting present heightened risks—particularly where children must cross the road, or where traffic speed and poor visibility create dangerous conditions.
Minister Commits to Legislative Action
Minister Kimmins issued a full statement thanking respondents and committing to action:
“I want to thank everyone who took the time to respond to this important consultation. Tragic incidents involving children at bus stops have highlighted the risks that can arise when passengers are getting on or off buses. These moments present a period of particular vulnerability, especially where children may need to cross the road and where traffic speed, visibility or road layout increase the potential for harm. The responses received will play an important role in shaping the next steps, including the progression of legislation and a wider package of measures across education, engineering and enforcement. I am committed to bringing forward measures that will make a meaningful difference to the safety of children travelling to and from school.”
“Road safety is of the utmost importance. I will continue to do all that I can to keep children and everyone safe on our roads.”
Child Casualties Reach 105
The consultation arrives amid concerning road safety statistics. Police figures for 2024/25 show that 105 children under 16 were killed or seriously injured on Northern Ireland’s roads—an increase of 23 from the previous year. Nearly a third of all child KSI (killed or seriously injured) casualties were pedestrians.
The issue has gained political traction following campaigns by bereaved families. The SDLP recently brought a motion to the Assembly urging legislation similar to that in the United States, Canada, and Germany, where vehicles must stop when school buses are picking up or dropping off children.
Unanswered Questions on Implementation
While the Minister’s welcome of responses is positive, several practical questions remain unaddressed in the Department’s announcement:
- No timeline has been provided for when the analysis will be completed or when draft legislation might appear before the Assembly
- The Department has not indicated how “dangerous circumstances” will be objectively defined to ensure consistent enforcement
- No details were shared about who responded—whether the 601 submissions came primarily from parents, schools, transport operators, or rural communities most affected by overtaking restrictions
- The announcement omits any discussion of enforcement resources, raising questions about how the Police Service of Northern Ireland would monitor thousands of bus stops across urban and rural roads
- No cost implications have been outlined for implementing new signage, driver education, or potential traffic calming measures
Rural Challenges and Traffic Flow
The consultation documents acknowledged the “practical realities of the north’s road network,” including differences between urban and rural environments. This is particularly significant given that two-thirds of road fatalities in Northern Ireland occur on rural roads, where narrow lanes and limited overtaking opportunities already create traffic challenges.
Any prohibition on overtaking buses could have significant impacts on rural traffic flow and journey times, yet the Department has not indicated how it will balance child safety against these practical concerns.
Analysis and Next Steps
The Department will now analyse the 601 responses alongside “further analysis, legal advice and engagement with operational partners” before deciding whether and how to proceed with legislation. A summary of consultation responses is expected to be published on the Department’s website in due course.
The Safer Journeys to School programme will continue to operate across three strands: education, engineering, and enforcement. This suggests that even before any new laws take effect, drivers can expect to see renewed public awareness campaigns and potentially enhanced road markings near school bus stops.
Outstanding Questions for Scrutiny
- How will the Department define “dangerous circumstances” in objective, enforceable terms that work equally well on narrow rural lanes and busy urban streets?
- What additional resources will the PSNI require to effectively monitor bus stops, and has the Department consulted the Justice Minister about enforcement capacity?
- Will the Department consider mandatory stopping laws similar to those in North America, or will Northern Ireland maintain a more permissive approach to passing stationary school transport?
- How will the Department ensure that safety measures do not inadvertently create new dangers through traffic congestion or frustrated driver behaviour on rural roads?
- When can the public expect to see the consultation analysis published, and will the Department commit to pre-legislative scrutiny before bringing proposals to the Assembly?