County Derry mum calls for better safety measures following tragic death of daughter

The mother of a young girl from County Derry who died after being struck by a car after getting off a school bus is calling for better safety measures to protect children. 

Stella McMullan launched an online petition yesterday (Friday) calling for authorities to do more to save lives. 

The petition, which has been signed by more than 4,500 people so far, comes just over a week after Stella’s daughter Caitlin-Rose passed away. 

The 11 year-old Castledawson girl, who was a year eight pupil at St Pius X College in Magherafelt, was struck by a car after exiting a bus on the Hillhead Road on March 5. 

Posting on Facebook, heartbroken Stella said: “As you all know we lost our baby girl on 6th March while coming off her school bus.

“I feel it's my legacy to her to start getting more bus shelters, speed awareness and bus awareness before some poor family will have this tragedy happening to them.

“Please spare a few minutes to help support my angel in changing the rules , all you need is a second to sign and write a comment to help me get this to the top.

“Simply click the link, sign, comment and share, greatly appreciate.”

Stella said more needs to be done to prevent further incidents and to raise more awareness. 

“I experienced a tragedy no parent should ever have to go through,” her petition read.  

“My daughter, only 11 years old, lost her life while coming off the school bus. It's an incident that has left a lasting impression on me and my family and it is only one example of a widespread and urgent problem: the lack of effective bus safety measures in place to protect our children.

“Statistics from the National Safety Council reveal that most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are 4 to 7 years old, and they're either walking or hit by another vehicle, just like my daughter (source: National Safety Council). It's evident that it's not enough to simply trust drivers to obey the laws; more needs to be done to ensure the safety of our children. 

“This petition is calling for the implementation of effective measures such as bus shelters, better bus codes similar to those found in countries where cars must stop by law to let children cross, and a significant increase in speed awareness around stopped buses. 

“The benefits of these changes are clear. By giving children a safe place to wait for the bus, providing clearer regulations for drivers, and reinforcing the need for drivers to slow down and stay alert near buses, we can help prevent tragic accidents like the one that took my daughter from me. It is time we prioritise the safety and lives of our children. Sign this petition and join the call for improved bus safety measures.”

The petition can be signed here