Yellow school bus stops in town

US-style yellow buses could be piloted in Britain from 2008

A US-style yellow school bus has visited Perth as part of a public consultation on school transport.

The bus has been modified as a mobile exhibition centre and is touring the UK as part of the Yellow Bus Commission.

The commission was set up by transport company First Group to examine the potential benefits of introducing the buses in Britain.

Comments from parents will be used to form the commission's report, which will be published in the spring, 2008.

In July, First Group published research suggesting 86% of British parents would like to send their children to school in dedicated buses.

'Cutting congestion'

The commission is spearheaded by the Labour MP, David Blunkett.

Its six members have been visiting dozens of towns and cities across Britain.

The Conservative MSP, Murdo Fraser, visited the bus and said the system would bring "a number of benefits".

He said: "There are potential road safety benefits from having yellow school buses, particularly in urban areas.

"It would also mean that fewer pupils would have to get lifts from parents who would ordinarily drive their children to school, cutting congestion and carbon emissions, and providing real environmental benefits.

"The Scottish Government must seriously consider the yellow school bus scheme and I would encourage local authorities to take this up."