[Rob]

It's been working quite well around my way now for a couple of years. Indeed they are I beleive expanding. I think though parents contribute towards them.

In my day school buses existed, but they were generally clapped out run down things. They were also only available to those who had some considerable way to get to their nearest school. These have an advantage of being purpose designed for the job, conspicous which helps safety cos drivers will know there could be kids nearby about to run into the road.

I think the yellow buses were also going to have a chaparone type bod on board, so the drive concentrates on the road, the chaparone, gets the kids to behave. Allocated seats stop silly disputes too.

Anything that might encourage mass transport rather than parents each using their biggest possible 4WD to take little johnny 100yards to school must be a good idea.