Bereaved parents call for stricter minibus rules

A couple whose daughter died in a school minibus crash 33 years ago have raised concerns their grandchildren still face the same dangers.

Liz and Steve Fitzgerald are campaigning for tougher safety laws following the crash in Warwickshire in 1993 which killed their 13-year-old daughter Claire, 11 other pupils from Hagley Catholic High School, Worcestershire, and their teacher who was driving.

The couple from Tamworth, and their MP Sarah Edwards, are calling for it to be mandatory for teachers to hold a D1 licence to drive a minibus.

Liz Fitzgerald said it had been shocking to realise that a lack of change in the guidance over 30 years affected her grandchildren.

"I just realised like a bolt one night that our two grandchildren, who at that time were under one and nearly five, were in the same position that Claire was in," she said.

"Which was a horrific thing for us to realise, to come to terms with."

The school minibus was returning from a trip to London when it was collision with a lorry on the M40 near Warwick.

Teacher Eleanor Fry, 35, and 12 students died. Two other pupils travelling in the minibus survived.

Current regulations permit any teacher who is over 21 and has held a standard licence for more than two years to drive a minibus which holds up to 16 passengers.

Under section 19 permits, teachers are not required to hold a D1 licence, which involves passing a Passenger Carrying Vehicle theory test; a practical driving test in a 17-seat minibus as well as a medical exam.

Someone driving for commercial purposes requires a D1 licence.

Steve Fitzgerald told the Press Association schools should also be held to higher standards, but he welcomed progress made on road safety.

His wife added: "We desperately want both teachers and children to come home safe."

She said she would prefer if "teachers didn't drive at all, frankly".

"Teachers, teach. Drivers, drive."

Teachers' union the NASUWT strongly advises members not to drive minibuses, and argues it should not be part of their contractual duty.

Matt Wrack, its general secretary, said the "loophole" allowing an untrained member of staff to drive "has been known for more than 30 years, has cost lives and must be closed".

A survey by the union found one in four teachers had been pressured into driving a minibus. It also found one in 10 teachers have been required to drive more than 50 miles after a full day of teaching.

Edwards, the Labour MP for Tamworth, said the rule change call was about making sure those with "responsibility for safety are feeling that they are as empowered as possible".

"And that the result is that everybody is as safe as they can be, rather than having a system that feels like it is trending towards what is cheap or convenient, rather than what is best practice and what is right," she said.

The government said in response: "Road safety is a top priority, and we provide guidance to schools and local authorities on driving minibuses."

Drivers should make sure they had the right entitlements, were properly trained and took regular breaks, a spokesperson said.

They added: "Ministers from the Department for Transport and the Department for Education have met with campaigners to listen to their concerns and will always work to make sure staff and children are safe when travelling to or from school activities."

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