Media Centre

Pupils commit to safer travel on the buses

27 Feb 2009

National Express West Midlands and St John Wall School have come together to produce an innovative 'Code of Conduct' for students using the bus service.

The thirteen point code has been produced through the National Express West Midlands Safer Travel initiative to reduce anti social behaviour on the bus and teach pupils how to be considerate of fellow passengers and bus drivers. The code will be signed by all students, aged between 11 and sixteen, at St John Wall School in Handsworth and by their parents or guardian.

Tony Haywood, Operations Manager for National Express West Midlands said:
“We’ve had a very close working relationship with St John Wall for a number of years and have contributed to assemblies and consulted with the Student Council. The new code is a commitment by pupils to behave in a sensible manner when travelling on the bus and to respect our drivers and be considerate of fellow passengers.”

Tony added: “I must praise the teachers and students in the school for their interest in the whole issue surrounding anti social behaviour on public transport. I think that our hard hitting presentation was well received by the pupils and believe this code of conduct will be a model for other schools.”

Mr Hyatt, Head Teacher of St John Wall Catholic School said: “We teach students the importance of courteous behaviour in all areas of life, including on public transport. The buses are especially important to our school community because we have a large catchment area. We welcome the continued support of National Express West Midlands and this initiative has become part of the whole school code of conduct.”

By signing the code of conduct pupils agree not to smoke, use bad language or verbal abuse, cause criminal damage, write graffiti or distract the bus driver. They also agree to report any anti-social behaviour to the school, police or National Express and to act in an orderly manner at all times whilst waiting for and travelling on the bus.

Note to Editors
National Express is a leading bus operator in the West Midlands, Dundee and London. In the West Midlands the group provides Europe’s largest fleet of easy access vehicles operating on a single area bus network.  With a fleet of over 2,000 buses, National Express provides more than 500 bus services each year and also operates the Midland Metro light railway rapid transit system from Birmingham to Wolverhampton.

Details of the pupils code of conduct:

This code of conduct has been produced through the National Express West Midlands Safer Travel initiative to ensure that all pupils are aware of the importance of good behaviour on our bus network. This contract is in place to guarantee both the safety of pupils and our staff and to ensure that our vehicles are treated with respect at all times.

PASSENGERS MUST NOT

• Smoke – the maximum fine is £1,000.
• Spit at fellow passengers or bus drivers / inspectors.
• Use bad language or verbal abuse whilst using NX bus services.
• Fight with other passengers.
• Cause criminal damage or write graffiti anywhere on NX vehicles.
• Tamper with emergency exits or throw objects from the bus windows.
• Distract the bus driver.
• Tamper with any CCTV equipment inside the bus. This is a criminal offence.

ALL PASSENGERS MUST

• Pay the correct fare or show their Travel Card to the driver.
• Act in an orderly manner at all times whilst waiting for and travelling on the bus.
• Stay seated whilst the bus is in motion.
• Show respect towards the driver and fellow passengers.
• Report any anti-social behaviour to the school, police or the Company.
-ENDS-

For further information, please contact:
Carly O’Donnell at National Express
Tel: 0121 460 8867
Email: Carly.odonnell@nationalexpress.com