Sir – An accident on the Oxford Tube reported by The Oxford Times (December 16) reminds me once again of the issue of child and baby safety on coaches. Fortunately there seems to have been no children or babies involved in the accident.

I am a resident of Oxford and regularly travel with children by coach to London and the airports. Although the driver always states that the law requires that passengers use seat belts there are no safety measures such as baby seats or child boosters provided.

I have searched the homepage of the Department for Transport where it is stated that “children on organised trips in minibuses and coaches must be provided with forward facing seats with seat belts.

“In minibuses and coaches first used on or after October 1, 2001, which have seat belts and anchorages that meet the Directive requirements, children may [my italics] also be provided with rearward facing seats with seat belts.”

Obviously the DfT text above is about school trips and the like, but does anyone know what does the word may means and what do the Oxford Tube, Oxford Express and airport services consider to be safe for babies?

Dr Ida-Eline Engh, Oxford