A recent incident involving a school pupil passenger has led to a bus driver undergoing retraining in Wales. The complaint was raised by a pupil who was travelling on the number 60 Newport Bus service from Usk to Monmouth Comprehensive School. Councillor Tony Kear addressed Monmouthshire County Council about the overcrowding issue on the school bus. He claimed that the bus, operated by Newport Bus, was overcrowded and expressed concern about students having to stand during the journey.
During a council meeting on September 19, Cllr Kear highlighted the need for safe driving standards and questioned the steps being taken to address the situation. He pointed out the discrepancy between dedicated school buses being equipped with seatbelts while pupils were allowed to stand on public service buses, which he referred to as “legally overcrowded”. In response, Cllr Martyn Groucutt, the Labour cabinet member responsible, stated that the council’s passenger unit conducts regular unannounced visits to buses used for school transport.
Cllr Groucutt acknowledged the incident raised by Cllr Kear and mentioned that the driver in question had been sent for retraining. He emphasised the importance of ensuring the safety of children on buses and expressed his hope that such incidents would not recur. Regarding the allegation of overcrowding on the number 60 bus to Monmouth, Cllr Groucutt stated that he was not aware of any complaints about overcrowding. The bus has a seating capacity ranging from 29 to 33, with the council issuing bus passes to 29 pupils. On average, there are around 20 fare-paying passengers on the bus, resulting in a total of approximately 49 passengers.
A spokesperson for Newport Bus declined to comment on individual employees. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining safety standards on school buses and ensuring the well-being of all passengers, especially students. The retraining of the bus driver underscores the commitment to addressing any concerns raised by passengers and officials. The incident has sparked discussions around bus safety and regulations, prompting authorities to reevaluate and reinforce measures to protect passengers during their journeys.