THE aunt of a Florencecourt student who was knocked down and killed on our roads six years ago says Stormont needs to introduce new legislation to prevent any further tragic deaths.

“Does another child have to get knocked down before this is taken seriously?” Charmaine Beattie has asked.

Speaking to the Impartial Reporter this week she says reflective strips sewn into all school uniforms is the “only way you can ensure your child will be seen on the road”.

“We are sending our children out in these dark uniforms that the schools are saying they have to wear,” she says, “The schools have so many stipulations about what children can and cannot wear when in school, such as earrings or make-up. So I don’t understand why so many of them haven’t bought into the idea of reflective strips for their safety.” Charmaine Beattie’s nephew, Nathan Gault, was killed along with his Devenish College friend, Debbie Whyte, by a passing car as they walked along the Coaghrim Road in November 2008.

During an inquest in 2010, a coroner concluded that wearing “illuminating clothing” could have prevented their deaths just weeks before Christmas.

As the anniversary of their untimely deaths approaches for another year, Fermanagh Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) are set to discuss at their next meeting the possibility of purchasing reflective armbands for students to use and be seen by motorists in the dark winter months.

The idea was originally mooted by UUP councillor and retired teacher, Rosemary Barton at a recent Council meeting.

But Charmaine says this is a waste of time and money, adding that the use of high visibility strips on uniforms needs to be “written in law”.

“The armbands have been tried before and they didn’t work.

“If they are not the style, children don’t want to wear them -- they will just whip them off. It needs to be on the uniform. They can’t take it off if it is on the uniform. It needs to be written in law.” The need for children to be more visible to motorists has been raised on many occasions in the past here.

But the issue was particularly prominent in the County after the deaths of Debbie and Nathan.

In the wake of the tragedy, the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) launched an initiative aimed at addressing the issue of road safety for young people, as a lasting legacy and tribute to the two Devenish College students.

In 2009 an action plan was drawn up focusing on a range of specific road safety elements, ranging from policy development to curriculum implementation and evaluation.

And reflective school clothing, including high visbility strips sewn into school blazers were also encouraged.

In 2010 three schools in the County introduced new uniforms which included reflective strips: St Comhghall’s College, Lisnaskea, the former Lisnaskea High School and Devenish College.

Charmaine is disappointed that other schools in Fermanagh haven’t done the same.

“I suppose when it hits home in their own school they may feel differently,” she says.

Charmine is not the only one keen to see Stormont introduce new road safety laws for school children.

New PSNI Area Commander, Joe McMinn acknowledges too, that the idea of reflective armbands may not go down well with children.

“As the Area Commander, I would say that anything to increase the visibility of school children on country roads is to be encouraged. If it saves just one person from getting injured or worse then it is worth it. But the problem is that children are concerned with ‘street cred’. Wearing reflective clothing should be made compulsory for school uniforms. If everyone had to wear it, that would take away the worry over street credit.” The senior officer is keen too, that Northern Ireland would follow the example of legislation in America where school buses are concerned.

“It’s not within my remit, but in America, when a school bus stops, it is illegal to overtake it. I think something like that should be introduced here.” And he has the backing of Fermanagh District councillor and WELB school bus driver, Sheamus Greene, in this regard.

“People are just far too impatient on our roads,” says Mr. Greene, “In America, if the school bus stops and the lights are on, it is illegal to overtake it.

“Only a few weeks ago a child was getting off the bus and a motorbike came up the inside of the bus. It is madness.” The PCSP member agrees too, that Stormont should consider making the use of reflective clothing a ‘must’ for school uniforms.

“I see children getting off the bus all the time. Their uniforms are so dark, and in the winter, the mornings are dark too. I carry a number of reflectors on the bus with me and I have frequently handed them to children and told them to put them on. “The young ones are reluctant, but at least they can be seen.

“It’s something that the Assembly would need to legislate to make schools enforce it.” It seems however that decision-makers in Stormont are preferring to keep the issue of reflective school uniforms at arms’ length for another Winter.

A spokesman for the Department of Education said the wearing of a school uniform is not governed by legislation and falls to the schools themselves to determine.

“The day-to-day management of schools, including school uniform policy, is a matter for school Principals, subject to any directions that might be given by the Board of Governors,” he said.

“However, the Department of Education (DE) has proactively sought to ensure that schools take action to improve the safety of children when travelling to and from school. This includes guidance on school uniform policy which DE issued to all schools on March 30, 2011. Section 5 of this guidance covers travelling to school and emphasises that the safety of children is paramount. The guidance also highlights the difficulties caused by dark uniforms during the winter months, particularly on rural roads. It asks schools to take this into account when designing their uniform and consider using reflective materials and to encourage the wearing of high visibility items. The guidance is available online at the following website address: http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/support-and-development-2/school_uniform.htm.” A spokeswoman for the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) meanwhile said: “In 2009, a pilot initiative was launched in three schools in Co Fermanagh (Devenish College, Lisnaskea High School and St Comhghall’s College) where reflective uniforms were introduced to promote better visibility, and to improve pupils’ road safety when travelling to and from schools and colleges. The Board encouraged all schools at that time, to give serious consideration to the introduction of reflective uniforms. The safety our of pupils travelling to and from schools is of paramount importance and any initiative aimed at promoting their safety has the full support of the WELB.”