By JASON COLLIE transport reporter
Stagecoach drivers will not be able to open their rear doors unless the bus has stopped, under a safety drive following a schoolboy's death.
The bus company will modify its entire New Zealand bus fleet of 900 to disable the rear doors unless the holding brake is on. It will also adopt a Tramways Union scheme to allow children on school services to exit only through the front door.
Bus hazard lights may also be set off automatically when the bus stops, to warn other motorists that passengers are getting off, says Russell Turnbull of Stagecoach.
The decisions follow the death in May of 12-year-old Matthew Taylor, who was run over by a bus in Browns Bay after his bag became caught in its rear door. Two other Auckland schoolboys were hurt in separate accidents.
The changes were agreed on at a safety meeting with the union last Thursday.
Mr Turnbull said yesterday that the only potential obstacle would be a huge cost, but Stagecoach believed these were three safety initiatives it could take.
"We are conducting an investigation into the Browns Bay event and the exact outcome is not known yet, but there are some areas that ... we can move on now."
Mr Turnbull did not know how long it would take to modify the Auckland fleet or how much it would cost. Access to emergency doors would not be affected.
Stagecoach and the Tramways Union clashed recently when the union told its drivers to let schoolchildren leave the bus only through the front door, to make sure everyone was off before the bus drove on.
Stagecoach had wanted to meet the union first. That system will now be used across the country when the new school term starts.
Union president Gary Froggatt said disabling the doors was also a very good idea.
"We do have some cowboys who open their doors before they get to stops and take off before they are shut. If we can eliminate that it's a good system."
Monique Lambermon, whose son Jason's right leg was badly bruised when he was run over by a bus last month, called all three ideas sensible but said drivers had to be more vigilant.
Peter Kippenberger, the Land Transport Safety Authority's Auckland regional manager, said the proposed changes would probably add to stopping times.
"However, you can't argue with the logic of it ... I am enthused the company is taking its safety responsibility seriously."
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