Can double-decker buses be used for transporting children on school visits?
Group leaders should ensure that seat belts are available for all group members on coaches and minibuses (Lap belts should be available as a minimum requirement). It is recommended that leaders, as part of their general “duty of care”, should check that these belts are fitted at all times during travel. Double-decker buses will not usually be fitted with seat belts and, as such, are inappropriate for long journeys, outside of what could reasonably be considered as suitable for a service bus. Therefore, for non-local visits and those that require transport along high-speed routes, such as motorways or dual carriageways, double-decker buses are not considered suitable. If double-decker buses are to be used for local school visits, it would be advisable to notify and seek consent from parents accordingly, and to inform them about the lack of available seatbelts.
