Last Monday, a tragic and preventable incident occurred when an 8-year-old autistic child who escaped unsupervised from his school van. The driver was unaware the child had left the van for several minutes, leading to the heartbreaking outcome of the child drowning in someone’s backyard pool. Ritchie’s Transport, contracted by the Ministry to provide transportation for children with additional needs, is currently under investigation.

This tragedy could have been avoided with proper safety measures in place. All children, especially children with additional needs, require attentive supervision to ensure their safety and well-being. This is why we are calling for the government to mandate the presence of at least two adults in every school van transporting children.

Having two adults on board, a driver and an aide, would provide the necessary supervision and attention to each child, minimizing the risk of such devastating events. This proposal is not only feasible, but crucial for safeguarding our children and providing peace of mind to their families.
Ensuring that our children are safe during transit must be a priority, and by adopting this measure, we can lead by example and create a safer environment for all.

We urge the Ministry of Education and transportation authorities to act swiftly and implement this safety requirement as a matter of urgency. Children’s lives depend on it, and no family should endure such heartache due to preventable oversight.

Please support this petition to demand action for better safety measures in school transportation for all children. Sign to make a difference.