Liz and Steve Fitzgerald have been waging a fierce campaign to get tougher school minibus regulations put in place. Their advocacy follows thirty-three years after the tragic death of their daughter, Claire Fitzgerald, in a minibus crash. Claire, just 13 years old at the time, lost her life alongside 11 other pupils when the minibus collided with a lorry on the M40 near Warwick while returning from a trip to London. The fatal crash also took the life of the minibus driver, teacher Eleanor Fry, 35.
The Fitzgeralds, along with local MP Sarah Edwards, seek to change current laws that allow teachers over 21 with a standard driving licence to operate minibuses without holding a D1 licence, which requires passing a theory test, practical driving exam, and medical examination. As one can expect, the rule as it stands has raised alarm bells. A recent union survey revealed that one in four teachers had been pressured to do so. One in ten teachers reported being required to drive more than 50 miles after a full day of teaching.
Liz Fitzgerald shared her personal story, including the lasting grief she continues to feel after losing her daughter. She said dealing with the awfulness of the crash has been a challenge for their family.
“Which was a horrific thing for us to realise, to come to terms with.” – Liz Fitzgerald
The couple’s campaign might help restore the balance so that safety, and not convenience, becomes the top priority in how children travel to and from school. They believe that the existing system is failing and will only continue to allow tragedies to occur.
“Road safety is a top priority, and we provide guidance to schools and local authorities on driving minibuses,” a government spokesperson stated.
These Fitzgeralds’ concerns have echoed all the way to government officials’ ears, who have met with campaigners to discuss changing them.
“Ministers from the Department for Transport and the Department for Education have met with campaigners to listen to their concerns and will always work to make sure staff and children are safe when travelling to or from school activities,” the spokesperson added.
Matt Wrack, a representative from a union, emphasized the urgent need for reform, stating that the issues surrounding minibus regulations “have been known for more than 30 years, have cost lives and must be closed.”
Sarah Edwards of The Street Trust expressed similar sentiments, calling for a system that puts safety first—not convenience.
“And that the result is that everybody is as safe as they can be, rather than having a system that feels like it is trending towards what is cheap or convenient, rather than what is best practice and what is right,” – Sarah Edwards
The Fitzgeralds continue to push for changes that would require teachers to hold a D1 licence before driving a minibus. Their goal is to bring attention to this challenge. Their deepest hope in taking this action is to protect others from a similar tragedy and to save other families from the suffering they have experienced since Claire’s tragic death.
