That ICPA (Aust) continues to lobby the relevant federal ministers and the Education Minister to implement a national funding program that would help ensure that no young geographically isolated children are left on childcare, preschool or school buses by installing sensor devices that sense sound and movement, to detect and alert drivers if young children have been left in the vehicle.
There have been numerous incidences that have occurred over the years of children being left on childcare/school buses and it continues to be a big issue. These incidences occur on a far more regular basis than are reported in the media. These incidences have caused distress, heat exhaustion, major physical injury and death.
Whilst thoughtful Policies and Procedures are continually put in place in Schools and Childcare Centres this is not preventing children from being left on busses. There needs to be physical monitoring devises installed in buses to counteract unfortunate human error.
A Sensor Device that monitors sound and movement just like a home monitoring device could be set during the hours that the bus wouldn’t ordinarily be transporting children. Alerts could be made to the bus drivers and centres or schools to mobile phones should the sensor detect anything.
Human error is inevitable, we urge the government act on implementing movement monitors as a matter of urgency on all Childcare Centre and School buses.
