Dorset Police Improve School Transport Safety

9 April 2014, 16:03 | Updated: 9 April 2014, 16:15

Dorset Police's Traffic Unit have been working across the county to improve the quality of school transport vehicles.

Officers took park in a national operation, which was held over a two-week period from 3 March 2014 to 16 March 2014 to target school transport methods such as buses, coaches, taxis and minibuses, which regularly carry young children and passengers. 

Dorset Police stopped a total of 75 vehicles at different locations within Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester and North Dorset. 

Of the 75 vehicles stopped, at least 28 vehicles were found to be committing various offences. 

Road casualty reduction co-ordinator, Police Constable Heidi Moxam said: 

"This operation is co-ordinated once a year to provide focused enforcement activity on passenger-carrying vehicles, which regularly provide road transport for some of the most vulnerable members of society. 

"The aim of the day was to identify those vehicles that are not complying with legislation in a bid to make the roads of Dorset safer." 

Officers stopped 61 school buses and minibuses and 20 offences were found mostly of a minor nature. These included lack of the required 'school bus' signage and an expiration date for emergency equipment such as fire extinguishers and first aid supplies. 

14 taxis/private hire cars were also checked with eight offences detected. One vehicle had a lighting offence and another had a tyre defect. Both vehicles were prohibited from continuing until the defects had been rectified and the drivers were prosecuted. 

Police Constable Heidi Moxam continued: 

"This was a successful event supported by local schools to ensure the safe carriage of children and young adults."