Hope raised for school bus safety

Robyn Oldham and Alexander Milne lost their lives in crashes

Families of schoolchildren killed or injured in school bus accidents in the north east of Scotland hope for progress after meeting their local MSP.

Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson, the Banff and Buchan MSP, also met Aberdeenshire Council officials.

Mr Stevenson said he would look into a range of measures that could make school buses safer.

Relatives of two pupils killed in recent crashes were involved in talks.

Calls for a change in the law intensified when two Aberdeenshire pupils died moments after stepping off school buses in separate incidents in September.

It's a situation that cannot go on. There's the possibility there will be another accident Ron Beaty Campaigner

Fraserburgh Academy pupil Alexander Milne, 12, died after he was hit by a car just outside his home at Lonmay on 19 September.

His parents said they did not want his death to be in vain.

His death came two weeks after Turriff Academy pupil Robyn Oldham, 15, died after being struck by a car moments after getting off a school bus. Her parents are also campaigning.

Mr Stevenson said after Thursday's meeting that a ban on overtaking school buses that were stopped was something which had been successful elsewhere.

'Go forward'

Aberdeenshire grandfather Ron Beaty's granddaughter Erin was knocked down and badly injured near Gardenstown four years ago.

He said after the talks: "Hopefully Aberdeenshire Council will take this on board, study everything that has been said, and I am sure we will go forward with the best will in the world to improve the situation.

"It's a situation that cannot go on. There's the possibility there will be another accident."

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has already said in a letter to Aberdeen MSP Nicol Stephen the "all stop" rule is not considered the safest option.

He said drivers may take risks to get past a bus before it stops.