Mumsnet Talk

A coach carrying children from a school in Worcestershire has crashed in Italy. Very sad, seems one of the teachers has died.

One of my fears since a coach from my primary school crashed on its way to Wales

I have just read that edam. So, so sad.

yes, indeed. I was worried for a short time as some of my relatives work for the company. Not close family but still. Seems it's a teacher who has died though - tragic for his family and the school.

Liz, my sister's coach crashed on a school trip - luckily everyone was fine but very alarming.

The school isn't too far from me. DS is off on a trip abroad with the school by coach in June. The coach crashing wasn't my main concern...until now.

My 2 came back from this exact same trip just 2 weeks before the accident. It made me go cold inside... I can never sleep the night they travel out or the night they come home, although I consciously try NOT to think about coach crashes. Just makes it all very real somehow. And they are both booked on the same trip for next year....

Very tragic for all concerned; Interski has a fabulous record though. Poor teacher, poor families; and I hope the 13 year old girl who was airlifted to Paris and is still critical comes through.

Interski's a small family firm, set up by a former teacher who ran exchange trips, so I know they will be devastated by this (I suppose any firm would be, but particularly given those factors, I think).

Something has to be done about the long-distance driving situation. I take 40 or so teenagers to France every year as a Teacher of MFL, it is one of the most important and significant things they do within their school career and for many their only trip abroad. Last year we also had a Driver who appeared to be falling asleep at the wheel, he was the only Driver and we drove all through the night, by the time we were on the motorway in France at around 6am we were all exhausted, seemingly including the Driver, I woke up several times as I could feel the coach 'veering' and I saw the Driver have to correct this. In the end another Teacher and myself had to ask him to stop on the hard shoulder for a break, we made all the kids stand in a field, I felt it was a wreckless decision at the time and a little extreme but now I am so glad I did, The Driver denied being tired but agreed to stop for coffee at the next services regardless. It was so frightening being responsible for all theose children but being kind og helpless, I also had a one year old back home and wondered if it was all worth it.
I recall we always used to have two Drivers, surely this should be imperative? If a Driver is feeling ill or tired for whatever reason surely there has to be someone there to take over? How can you ever be sure that a Driver about to undertake a 'night drive' is sufficiently rested beforehand. Too many risk factors for my liking. I always look forward to my next trip to the continent but i'm not now. So sad.