Posted By Carl West
No, its NOT compulsory.

Just like its not compulsory to have a sticker in your car saying "baby on board". It is though: Good Practice

Posted By GSP
The only relevance i see to the School sign on buses is that you DO get idiot children running out from infront/behind the bus when they are fighting and throwing stuff at each other while getting off the bus

Posted By Rob T
hi Allan,

The original reason for the "baby on board" sign was to help the fire brigade when attending the scene of a crash. Baby's have been known to have been thrown out of there chairs or the seat itself become detached and the kids not been found especially if the parent/s are knocked out. The sign was to warn the FB/police to look more closely.

I think this has been lost though and now people put the signs up exactly how you interpret it.

Cheers
Rob

Posted By Renny Thomson
Actually, they are a requirement.

"School Bus Signs and Hazard Warning Lights
In terms of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 as amended by the Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations 1994, designated buses and coaches that are used for journeys to and from school are required to display distinctive retro-reflective yellow school bus signs fitted to the front and rear of the bus. These signs must be plainly visible to road users ahead of, and behind, the bus. Vehicles displaying school bus signs are also permitted to use hazard warning lights when the vehicle is stationary and children are boarding or alighting.

The purpose of the school bus sign and hazard warning lights is to make other road users aware that when the vehicle is stationary children are likely to be getting on or off the bus and may be crossing the road. Other road users should, therefore, be very cautious when passing a school bus in those circumstances. There is no statutory requirement to remove the school bus signs when the vehicles are not being used to transport children, or to use hazard warning lights when the vehicle is stationary and children are boarding or alighting.
"

Posted By Peter Taylor14
I cannot find anything in stated regulations plaese help

Posted By Brian John Abbs
As Jon correctly pointed out they have been a requirement for some time, the type referred to can be found here. http://www.mckennabrothers.co.uk/schdestbds.html

These signs are not the same as a "BOB" notice, which is not a legal requirement. As stated above they are to advise emergency services and ISUs to look more thoroughly.

As discussed, they now tend to mean the parent believes they are special case, and we all have to change our driving behaviour to suit them, or as a warning to others that the parent driving the vehicle is paying more attention to the youngster(s) in the vehicle than they are to the road.

I'm also beginning to doubt their efficacy as a warning device to emergency services.

After a recent incident on a major road in Kent, emergency services and ISU crews spent hours searching for a child that was believed to have been thrown from the vehicle during the accident. IR cameras and dogs had to be brought in to assist in the search. It was later discovered that the child was at a nursery/kindergarten.

Although this is an extreme case, it is evidence that safety signs and notices are most useful when they are accurate.

Do you know many drivers that remove the B.O.B sign when they've left the kids at home?

Brian