Growing up in Wales, public transport has always been a vital part of my daily life. From getting to school, commuting to work, and traveling to see family and friends, I have spent countless hours on buses across our beautiful country. However, every time I board a bus, I am acutely aware of the lack of basic safety measures—particularly the absence of seatbelts.

Over the year of using Public Transport almost every day, I would like to explain what has happened on occasions.  Once, a driver had to do an emergency stop and a lady flew across the seats and hit her head with forceon the side of the panel.  The Prams are not secure and the Disabled Passengers in wheelchairs have brakes but both prams and wheelchairs would tip over. The elderly passengers are at risk with fraility.  The roads have been risky with treacherous weather and also with other drivers taking risks and over taking on bends and other errors causing the buses to stop immediately.  There are seatbelts in Lorries, Vans, Cars, Taxis and this is the law.  

In recent years, road traffic incidents have highlighted the risks associated with bus travel. According to the UK Department for Transport's 2020 report, there were over 1,200 bus and coach occupant casualties, underscoring the importance of taking proactive measures to safeguard passengers. Seatbelts are a simple yet effective way to reduce fatalities and severe injuries in the event of a collision.

The law mandates seatbelts in cars to protect lives, so why shouldn’t the same standards apply to our public buses? In countries like the United States and Australia, legislation requires seatbelts on certain types of public transport buses, demonstrating that this is both a feasible and practical solution.

I urge the Welsh Government and local councils to prioritize passenger safety by requiring all public transport buses to be fitted with seatbelts. Such a measure would not only align Wales with international safety practices but also show a steadfast commitment to protecting its citizens.

Implementing this change may require an initial financial outlay, but the benefits in terms of lives saved, reduced medical costs, and peace of mind for passengers are far greater.

Your voice can make a difference. Let's urge our leaders to take this crucial step towards enhancing passenger safety. Please join me in signing this petition and make our public transport safer for everyone.