Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Innovative new technology which aims to improve the safety of children boarding school buses is to be trialed in the North East.The "SeeMe Bus Stop" technology, which warns drivers to exercise extreme caution when school buses are in operation, has already proven a success in Sweden.
Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council and Moray Council are now evaluating options to test the technology.
The six month trial is part of a range of measures councils and the Scottish Government are looking at within their devolved competencies as they seek to improve school bus safety.
Other measures include:
- Options to increase the visibility of the school bus sign
- Reaffirming the appropriate use of the school bus sign
- Clear requirement within current bus contracts for the use of hazard warning lights when picking up and dropping off pupils
- Requesting that all operators also use dipped headlights when picking up and dropping off pupils
- Education resource and publicity campaign for schoolchildren and drivers urging extreme caution when approaching school buses (entitled "1 second, 1 life")
Commenting on the current progress of that work the Transport Minister said:
"The families who have lost children as a result of road accidents have faced unimaginable tragedy.
"We don't currently have powers over road safety legislation, but I am determined that we make full use of our devolved responsibilities to ensure action is taken in Scotland.
"This is very much a work in progress, but we are considering a wide range of measures to increase the safety of our children, through better education of children and drivers, through to greater visibility.
"We are looking at measures to increase the visibility of school children, new education resources, and advanced warning systems which urge drivers to exercise extreme caution.
"The SeeMe technology has proven successful in Sweden and looks promising, but we also want to look at what other technology is available elsewhere in the market. This trial will allow us to properly assess its impact.
"These measures being outlined today have the potential to improve child safety and as we move forward we want to identify further action which can be taken over the short, medium and long term to make school bus services safer."
Councillors Peter Argyle and Richard Stroud emphasised the importance of working closely with the Scottish Government in relation to improving school bus safety.
Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Education, Learning and Leisure Committee Councillor Stroud said:
"Daily across Aberdeenshire, over 12,500 pupils travel to school by bus. The safety of these children is paramount and I welcome the opportunity to work closely with the Scottish Government to look at ways to improve this service."
Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee Councillor Argyle said:
"We can address the wider issues of road safety and school transport by working together across services and by continuing to listen to the community.
"The council will work with the Scottish Government on pilot projects that will lead to improved standards across Scotland. The recently launched '1 second, 1 life' campaign is a good example of the cross-agency approach that is required."
The interactive signs/bus stop flash to warn drivers when schoolchildren carrying a corresponding small transmission device are in the vicinity. 'SeeMe' has already proven successful in Sweden and the technology is fully customisable to different locations and needs.
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson is today appearing in front of the Public Petitions Committee on school bus safety in Fraserburgh.
Scottish Government is developing a 10 year road safety Framework for Scotland. Mr Stevenson set up an expert panel which is helping to advise on possible measures as part of this strategy. The Framework will be published in the next few months. The safety of children will be a priority, including on their journey to and from school.
