Police launch school bus safety swoop
CHRIS BISHOP Shocked police found an unlicensed driver and one bus which was so dangerous it was ordered off the road immediately when they swooped on school transport today.
CHRIS BISHOP
Shocked police found an unlicensed driver and one bus which was so dangerous it was ordered off the road immediately when they swooped on school transport today.
Twenty school buses on their way to different schools in King's Lynn were pulled over for spot checks this morning.
Inspector Julian Moulton, from Norfolk's western area road policing, said 12 of them were found to be committing offences including an unlicensed driver, one which was ordered off the road because of a severe problem with the rear emergency door, one with faulty brakes and several verbal warnings for minor offences such as faulty lights.
Insp Moulton said: “As a result of our findings I would like to appeal to bus companies to be pro active on their checks regarding licensing of drivers, the training of drivers and vehicle standards.
“I have been shocked by the amount of problems we have discovered with school buses and as a result further operations to conduct checks will be undertaken. I'm asking the general public for their co operation and support on this as it may cause delays to services.
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“However, I would underline the fact that a delay to service is only an inconvenience whereas the impact on the community would be massive if there was an accident with one of these vehicles.”
Insp Moulton thanked the College of West Anglia, which allowed officers to use its grounds to carry out the checks.
He said anyone with information regarding a bus that they feel is not up to standard could report it to him on 0845 456 4567.
