The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs stated that the new scheme approved today at the Legislative Assembly will provide the Region with "a more reasonable, consistent and especially safer transport system that will ensure the effective improvement in the framework regulating the transport of children. "
 
Isabel Rodrigues spoke in Horta during the discussion of the proposal for Regional Legislative Decree submitted by the Government. She pointed out that, nine years since the adoption of the previous legal scheme, the new document approved today "can adjust the existing scheme to the current social and legal context."
 
The main changes include the clarification of the concept of collective transport of children and the implementation of a set of requirements to the drivers of vehicles that specifically concern their driving duties. So far, these requirements had been only applied to the administrators, directors and managers of companies. The compatibility between the technical and professional ability of drivers and the compulsory attendance of a training course prior to the examination for obtaining the respective certificate are also relevant changes to the current legal scheme.                                                                                                                     
 
In regard to safety, the Government introduced a series of amendments intended to protect the users of these services, including the clarification that the bus capacity corresponds to the number of seats and the removal of the limit of the presence of children under 12 years so that they be may under supervision.                 
 
"Recently, several inspections activities have been carried out in conjunction with members of PSP (Public Security Police) and will be followed by others, because safety is our main concern," said Isabel Rodrigues.
 
Every year, thousands of children and young people are transported in the Azores, many of them on regular public transport passenger routes operated by companies that also provide school transport.
 
"The school transport services provided in the Region is a measure that supports families and ensures equal access to education. It is not an expense, it is rather an investment the Government is making in the education of children and young people," stressed the Regional Secretary.
 
Isabel Rodrigues stressed that "parents and tutors who are in charge of the education of children and young people in the Azores recognise school transport as an essential support measure in family life as well as an essential resource for their children to attend school."