New legislation to ban overtaking of school buses, says Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has confirmed plans to introduce new legislation prohibiting the overtaking of school buses while they are stopped to collect or drop off children.

The announcement follows a growing public concern around the safety of pupils at bus stops, and the move has been welcomed as a decisive step towards protecting young road users.

“Road safety is a priority for me, and recent tragic events have highlighted the need for all of us to be cognisant of the safety of children when they are getting on or off school buses,” said Minister Kimmins.

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has been actively exploring ways to address the risks posed to children by motorists who continue to overtake stationary school buses.

In response, Minister Kimmins has signalled a clear intention to implement new legislation that will make such overtaking illegal.

“Having asked officials within the Department to explore the issue, it is now my intention to introduce legislation which will prohibit the overtaking of school buses.

“It is incumbent on drivers to take extra care around buses, and this was highlighted by my Department’s most recent advertising campaign. However, I believe strengthening the law around this issue is an important step in further improving safety for children here,” she added.

The announcement comes amid a broader push to improve road safety across Northern Ireland. Minister Kimmins spoke candidly about the emotional impact of meeting families who have lost loved ones in road incidents.

“Too many families have had their world shattered by receiving the worst possible news after a loved one has set out on a routine journey,” she said.

“I have met grieving families and heard their heartbreaking stories. I am committing to introducing legislation to help prevent more lives being devastated.”

While legislative work is underway, the Minister has urged the public to take immediate action to support road safety.

“Whilst legislation is being prepared, there are actions we can all take that will help us reach our goal – take more care on the roads, slow down and ignore our mobile phones.

“Have conversations about our shared responsibility as road users with our family and friends to ensure road safety messaging reaches as wide an audience as possible.”

In addition to the proposed law banning overtaking of school buses, Minister Kimmins announced that measures will be implemented to reinforce the correct use of warning signs and flashing lights on school transport vehicles.

Drivers who fail to operate these lights properly could face fixed penalty notices from the beginning of the new school term in September.

“The Department is using other measures to improve road safety including 20mph zones around schools and work on the delivery of the Graduated Driver Licensing scheme,” the Minister added.

The move is expected to be welcomed by educators, parents and road safety campaigners, and reflects a growing emphasis on the protection of vulnerable road users in legislative priorities.