Buses and taxis targets of road safety drive

BUSES and taxis used to transport children to schools in the Lothians are set to undergo inspections as part of a new campaign to boost road safety.

Representatives from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (Vosa) will carry out the safety checks in East Lothian and Midlothian under the month-long scheme. A number of drivers have already been stopped while taking children to school and reported for various motoring offences, including children not wearing seat belts or cars not fitted with an appropriate booster seat.

Meanwhile, police officers will be joined by colleagues from Vosa and traffic wardens to discuss road safety with pupils, parents and guardians during visits to schools.

Inspector Fraser Jervis, head of road policing for East and Midlothian, said: "The purpose of this campaign is to reduce the number of child casualties we have on our roads."