EUROPEAN transport chief Neil Kinnock has pledged that the EC will push for increased bus and coach safety in the wake of the Alps coach crash which killed three Bolton schoolchildren.

The former Labour leader was responding to a campaign by Bolton MEP Gary Titley to make the fitting of seatbelts in all coaches compulsory in every EC member state.

Mr Kinnock said there are already a number of directives requiring seatbelts in new coaches which will come into force in October. But he stressed it would be more difficult to crack down on older vehicles.

In a letter to Mr Titley he said: "Making seatbelts compulsory across all Member States for all vehicles carrying children would clearly require some existing buses and coaches to be retrofitted.

"Although this approach would certainly lead to increased safety, it could also generate certain problems since, as you know, retrofitting is not always technically feasible and even where it is possible, it is likely to be very costly for certain older models.

"I have therefore asked my services to examine with other Member States the possibility and desirability of community action."

Mr Kinnock asked Mr Titley to convey his "deepest sympathies" to the families of the three St James's School pupils who died.

Mr Titley said: "The EU is taking action but obviously more action is needed to prevent tragedies like this happening again.

"Unfortunately it is almost technically impossible to fit seatbelts in older coaches and if the vehicles do not have proper anchorage points it is often more dangerous to have seatbelts than if there were none fitted."

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