Bus death prompts campaign

Bus death prompts campaign

Jade Sanderson died in hospital after the accident

A campaign for safety warning lights has been launched after a Cardiff schoolgirl was fatally injured getting off a school bus.

Jade Sanderson, from St Mellons, was knocked down on 14 February and later died in hospital.

The St Mellons community was united in shock at the death and an action group called Jade's Rule has been set up to ensure school buses are equipped with flashing warning lights.

Supporters believe the lights would save lives by alerting drivers not to overtake stationary school buses, while children get on and off.

The campaign will not stop until the traffic does

Cheryl Acton, Jade's Rule campaigner

Jade's Rule has drawn support from Cardiff AM Lorraine Barrett, who is actively seeking backing from assembly ministers to fund the safety measures.

A police investigation into Jade's death is continuing.

Her parents Mark and Sue Sanderson - who was at the meeting - have received support from the communities of St Mellons and Llanrumney, where Jade was a pupil at Llanrumney High School.

A leaflet campaign was launched at the school on Thursday, urging Cardiff residents to sign up to support the measures.

Jade's Rule spokeswoman Cheryl Acton said the idea had received "powerful" support from within the community.

Campaigners launch Jade's Rule leaflets

"People have said the warning lights should be law here as they are in the United States and Canada," she said.

"This was an awful tragedy and this has been a difficult day for Sue. For her to come here and give her support has taken an act of great courage."

Ms Acton added: "The campaign will not stop until the traffic does."

Fellow campaigner Amanda Page said: "I spoke to a policeman who has been to America and seen this operating successfully."

Children in the US travel to school on custom-built yellow buses.

Jade was a pupil at Llanrumney High School

They are equipped with yellow and red flashing warning lights, roof and side escape routes and fitted with devices on the front to prevent children falling in front of the vehicle.

A number of yellow buses have recently been imported to use on school runs in Wales, Scotland and England.

Lorraine Barrett AM has raised the Jade Sanderson case with Welsh Transport Minister Sue Essex about the viability of adopting US-style measures.

Cardiff councillor Len Ackerman, who lost his son in a road accident four years ago, has pledged his support to the campaigners.

The council has pledged to examine safety issues at the spot where Jade sustained her injuries at Willowbrook Drive, St Mellons.