Bereaved Mother Calls for Urgent Action on School Bus Safety
A mother whose 11-year-old daughter died after exiting her school bus has emphasized that "there is no time to waste" regarding potential legislative changes to improve bus safety.
Caitlin-Rose McMullan tragically died in March 2025 after being struck by a car.
One year following the incident, Stella McGinn expressed that "too many families had already endured unbearable pain" due to what she identifies as deficiencies in school bus safety measures.
"One year on from my daughter's death, we've got nothing set in stone around law changes. How many children are going to get killed or hurt going to and from school before changes are made?"
The collision involving Caitlin-Rose occurred in Castledawson, County Londonderry.
Currently, Northern Ireland law does not require other vehicles to stop when a school bus is picking up or dropping off pupils.
School Bus Safety Announcements Expected Soon
The Infrastructure Minister has previously announced plans to introduce legislation prohibiting overtaking school buses at bus stops in Northern Ireland.
Liz Kimmins, speaking to NI, indicated that further announcements regarding school bus safety would be made "in the coming weeks."
"As a parent myself it's something I'm always thinking about in everything I do and I know people will ask why it is taking so long, but we have a responsibility to get this issue of school buses right and we've a dedicated team of people looking at this issue of legislation," Kimmins said.
Mother Reflects on Daughter's Death and Calls for Change
Stella McGinn recalls the moment she heard the news of her daughter's death as if it were yesterday.
"She was bubbly, fun loving and had her whole life ahead of her, dreams and plans and was just finding herself as a person," she said.
"Just as she was starting to bloom her life was just snatched away, I still expect her to come in home from school, life will never be the same."
Ms. McGinn explained that Caitlin-Rose was "blindsided" when she walked out between two buses and "couldn't see traffic coming."
"It has been a living nightmare, you never think it's going to happen to your family," she added.
"The accident happened right at the end of our lane, I walk past it every day and we've tributes to Caitlin there, and I go up and talk to her every day."
Calls for new laws to improve school bus safety in Northern Ireland have existed for over 20 years but have intensified since Caitlin-Rose's death.
The Department for Infrastructure is reviewing international examples as it develops potential legislation for Northern Ireland.
In some regions of the United States and Canada, it is a motoring offence to overtake a school bus when it has stopped. Safety measures in these areas include retractable stop signs on the left side of buses that flash amber or red when children are boarding or alighting.
"I just don't want any other family to go through what we have had to endure, but sadly I know that will happen again," Stella said.
"That's why we need the law changed to make things safer for children getting on and off school buses, and I can't understand why it is taking so long to get progress going."
Medical Perspective on School Bus Safety
Dr. Damien Gates, a consultant at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, was on duty when Caitlin-Rose was admitted following the collision.
"When I got the call and heard that a child had been struck by a vehicle while getting off a school bus, I just thought – 'not again', because my colleagues and I have seen this all too often," he said.
"It's an immense sense of sadness that we couldn't do anything to help Caitlin as her injuries were so profound, but that unfortunately is the reality of the job."
School Bus Operations and Safety Data
School buses in Northern Ireland are operated by the Education Authority (EA). Additionally, Translink operates dedicated school services, and private operators may also be contracted to provide services.
Translink reported that between 2020 and 2025, across all its services, 13 people were injured and one person was killed after being struck by a vehicle shortly after exiting one of its buses.
The Education Authority stated it does not hold data on this issue.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that since 2020, nearly 700 young people aged between 4 and 18 years have been killed on Northern Ireland roads during school term time.
Meanwhile, the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast found that over the past 15 years, there has been an average of one case per year of a child admitted to intensive care after being struck by a vehicle when exiting a school bus.
Dr. Gates noted that these figures do not represent the full scope, as cases involving limb fractures are typically treated on general wards, and children who die at the scene are not included.
"Within the last six months, two further children were admitted to hospital with severe injuries after getting off a bus or being struck by a vehicle," he added.
Education Authority's Response and Safety Measures
The Education Authority expressed condolences to Caitlin-Rose's family and noted that while it lacks legislative powers, it has implemented some road safety measures around school buses.
"Our buses are fitted with a number of safety features, including lighting and signage which will flash when children or young people are getting on or off the vehicle," a spokesperson said.
"We have increased our social media activity, actively promoting and sharing key school transport safety messages.
"We also recently produced a safe travel video for primary aged children, which was shared with schools."
