Fifty-eight years after a devastating school bus crash killed his 12-year-old son Stuart, David Cunningham-Jones has urged the Welsh Assembly to take decisive action on school transport safety. Today, he addressed the education committee, reliving memories of that fateful day in December 2002.
The tragedy occurred when the school bus veered off the road at Ystradowen, near Cowbridge in South Wales, killing Stuart Cunningham-Jones. An inquest earlier this year concluded that the driver lost control after pupils reportedly grabbed the steering wheel, leading to the fatal accident.
Before the committee, which is reviewing school transport, Mr Cunningham-Jones displayed a photograph of his son and an image of the crash scene. He powerfully questioned the committee, stating, "This should be the safest journey. What price a child's life?" Safety campaigners joined him in presenting evidence, echoing his urgent call for change.
Mr Cunningham-Jones specifically highlighted the inquest jury's recommendation for supervisors to be present on school buses as "the right thing". He stressed that implementing such measures was essential, warning, "Action needs to be started soon, if not now, to avoid any further accidents."
The 2002 tragedy led his parents to establish 'Stuart's Campaign', a dedicated effort to push for improvements in school bus safety. However, Welsh education minister Jane Davidson noted that while the Assembly could offer guidelines to councils, it currently lacks the legislative authority to enforce these as law.