NSW Government acts on initial bus safety recommendations
Media Release from Senator the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications
MEDIA RELEASE | 13 October 2023
The NSW Government is working to improve safety on buses and coaches, accepting all 5 recommendations from the Bus Taskforce First Safety Report, that was ordered following the Hunter Valley tragedy.
The initial report addresses a number of key areas, including a new safety campaign to promote seatbelt usage and possible speed restriction mandates for school buses, as well as addressing risks for passengers standing on buses, travelling in speed zones over 80 km/h.
Transport for NSW has begun work to implement the recommendations, prioritising awareness around seatbelt compliance.
Immediately following the devastating bus incident in the Hunter Valley on 11 June 2023, the Transport Minister instructed the taskforce to expand its scope to examine the safety and regulatory arrangements of bus operations in NSW.
Transport for NSW will launch the new safety campaign from this week, aimed at educating passengers about the importance and legal requirements of wearing a seatbelt on a bus where one is available. Wearing a seatbelt doubles the chance of surviving a crash and reduces the risk of injury.
The campaign will initially appear on buses and coaches to ensure people buckle up when they travel. A second awareness campaign will appear later this year to coincide with peak holiday travel period.
The government looks forward to the findings of future reports, which will make further recommendations to address safety concerns that arose from the tragedy.
Recommendations from the First Safety Report of the Bus Industry Taskforce:
That the NSW Government and Transport for NSW complete the current implementation of the NSW Rural and Regional Seatbelts Program as soon as possible.
That a road safety campaign be implemented to promote compliance with seatbelt laws on buses, including by school children.
That Transport for NSW consider how bus operators can be best assisted to comply with their obligation to inform passengers about the mandatory use of seatbelts. This could include additional guidance material, or regulatory or contractual amendments.
That Transport for NSW conducts a thorough examination of the risks associated with standees on buses and explores potential risk mitigation approaches.
That Transport for NSW consider whether the 80km/h rule for dedicated school bus services with standing passengers could be rolled out across all services and examine ways of reducing risks for standees on buses travelling over 80 km/h.
Read the full first safety reportlaunch on the Transport for NSW website.