Mid Ulster councillors lobby to make overtaking a stationary bus illegal in Northern Ireland
Mid Ulster District Council has responded to the current DfI Safer to School Consultation Programme with one clear message – the safety of children and other passengers around any type of buses should come before the convenience of motorists.
Some of the key recommendations in the council’s response were worded as follows: “Other than emergency vehicles requiring passage, the council is not aware of any other circumstances where overtaking a stationary bus should remain permissible without being considered dangerous.
“The council agrees that overtaking a stationary bus should be prohibited in clearly defined dangerous circumstances.
“The council agrees that consideration of time‑limited speed limits on specific roads (for example during school travel times) could help address passing‑related risks in certain locations.
“The council agrees that any new legislative provisions should apply to all buses, rather than being limited to school‑specific services.
“In addition, the council would like to recommend the implementation of good practice procedures that have been established in other jurisdictions.
“This includes in some parts of the United States of America and Canada where it is a motoring offence to overtake a school bus when it has stopped.
“Safety measures in these jurisdictions include retractable stop signs on the left-hand side of buses, which flash amber or red when children are exiting.
“Finally, the council would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the family of Caitlin Rose McMullan.
“Caitlin Rose, who resided within our council area, very sadly passed away in March 2025, after getting off a school bus. She was aged just 11 years old.
“Caitlin Rose’s family have lobbied tirelessly for the introduction of specific legislation to ensure that other vehicles do stop when a school bus is picking up or dropping off pupils.
“The council hopes that suitable and effective legislation will be introduced at the earliest opportunity and within the current Assembly mandate.”
The recommendation to approve the draft response was proposed by Councillor Gael Gildernew (Sinn Féin, Clogher Valley DEA) and seconded by Councillor Malachy Quinn (SDLP, Torrent DEA).
Commenting on the council’s response to the consultation at Mid Ulster’s May 7 Policy Resources committee meeting, Councillor Córa Corry (Sinn Féin, Carntogher DEA) said: “We all know the importance of bus safety, especially in our area, and I know everybody will be thinking of Caitlin Rose McMullan who tragically died in March last year.
“She was only 11 years old when she was killed getting off her school bus. She should have had her whole life ahead of her, and the devastating impact that that has had on her family, her mother Stella, her school community, all her friends, and the community as a whole.
“So, anything that we can do to bring some good out of this situation, we should be doing.
“And I know for [DfI] Minister Liz Kimmins, this is something really important to her and that she’s really eager to see it come forward — so that no other life is lost on our roads for anyone getting off a bus.
“I believe that it will have an impact if we’re able to stop cars or other vehicles from overtaking a stopped bus whenever children are getting off.
“In rural areas, we don’t have the luxury of bus stops and things like that. So, anything that we can do to make travel safer for children, and indeed everyone, we should be doing. “
Cllr Corry went on to refer to John Shaw, a gentleman who tragically died after being struck by a car while crossing the road on November 6, 2025. He had just got off a bus in the Grange Road area of Magherafelt.
She commented: “It calls to mind John Shaw on the night he was killed. I came across the accident on my way to our meeting.
“So, I do believe that this legislation, when it comes forward — and hopefully it comes forward as we are asking for here tonight — will save lives. Thank you all for putting this together.”
Cllr Gildernew welcomed the council’s strong stance on the issue of road safety as well: “The safety of our children while travelling to and from school is a concern for us all, and I’m delighted that Minister Kimmins has given it the priority that it deserves.
“Legislation around overtaking and passing buses, especially when stationary, is sadly needed due to the number of children getting injured and losing their lives getting on and off buses.
“I’m wondering, could we include in the response an exploration of options for vehicles passing buses from the opposite direction, as well as overtaking and passing in the same direction.”
Cllr Quinn recalled that he had got the ball rolling back at the March 2025 monthly meeting of the local authority, when he tabled a motion calling for legislative steps to be taken to enhance road safety around school buses picking up or dropping off pupils.
He recalled: “It has now been a year since I brought this motion before Mid Ulster Council calling for stronger protections around stationary buses and greater safety for children and passengers getting on and off transport.
“Over that time, I have continued to raise concerns around vehicles overtaking stationary buses and the danger this creates for children and families.
“We’ve taken this campaign to Stormont, and credit must be given to the minister for taking these concerns seriously and engaging with the issue.
“That’s why I’m pleased to see that the council is now backing many of the points that we have consistently argued for — in particular, the need for clear and enforceable legislation, strong protections when children are boarding or alighting, and the view that these measures should apply to all buses, not just school-specific services.
“I particularly welcome the line within this response stating that, other than emergency vehicles requiring passage, the council is not aware of any other circumstances where overtaking a stationary bus should remain permissible without being considered dangerous.
“This is a strong statement, and it backs up exactly what many of us have been saying for a long time: that the safety of children and passengers must come before driver convenience.
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“For too long, families have had to worry about vehicles passing stationary buses while children are crossing the roads or stepping off transport, and this simply cannot continue.
“I also want to place on record my thanks to the council staff for the work that has gone into preparing this response and engaging seriously with the consultation process.
“I also welcome the recognition given to the family of Caitlin-Rose McMullan, whose tireless campaigning has helped keep this issue firmly on the public agenda.
“If this consultation leads to stronger laws that prevent even one family going through such heartbreak again, then it will be worthwhile.”
Committee chair, Councillor Eva Cahoon (Democratic Unionist Party, Cookstown DEA) pointed to the need for robust legislation to help implement road safety measures: “In that response regarding the bus travel, it’s really important that the final line included in that response states that suitable and effective legislation will be introduced, because unless it’s effective, and unless it can be implemented well and clearly understood, we believe that should be a primary focus as well, so that we have the best safety possible for those on our roads and on our buses.”