You know the story.

Someone is killed at a railway crossing, so authorities erect extra warning signs.

Barriers are installed after a car slams into a building and a pool fence is installed following a tragic drowning.

The misfortune of others has a way of making legislators sit up and take notice of dangerous situations previously neglected.

Often though, it is a case of shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.

This week’s announcement that every public school-owned bus in the state has been fitted with seatbelts has come not a minute too soon.

There are few things more important than our children’s safety and any measure that increases their security is to be applauded.

It’s just a shame that so many Mandurah Baptist College students had to be injured in an horrific bus crash five years ago for this to finally happen.

Everybody knows that seatbelts save lives.

And no one is allowed to travel by car without wearing one.

So why did it take so long for seatbelts to be introduced to school buses in the first place?

And is there a chance all public transport buses will be fitted with the devices in the future?

Whatever happens, one thing is sure.

For now, public school children are safer when travelling by bus than they were before the legislation was introduced.

The new rules make Western Australian children among the most protected in the country.

It is a great step forward and it puts our children in line with other states that have already adopted similar safety measures.

And it’s about time.