BY EMILY WILLIAMS
The State Government has instructed the Bus Industry Taskforce to urgently examine the effectiveness of safety regulations on buses and coaches.
This coming two weeks after a horrific bus crash in the Hunter Valley which killed 10 passengers and saw a further 25 admitted to hospital.
The accident was the worst road accident in three decades.
The taskforce will specifically examine the following:
- The adequacy of retrofitting seat belts on school buses in regional NSW over the past 10 years.
- Consideration of expanding seat belts on buses to other areas of the State, and enforcement of seatbelt laws.
- Whether any changes should be recommended to the Australian Design Rules for buses and coaches.
- Bus and coach operator safety management systems, including driver training and fatigue management.
NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen says the bus crash was a tragic event.
"We know seat belts save lives but if there needs to be more enforcement around this issue put in place so something like this doesn't happen again, we will do it," she said.
The Taskforce will present their early findings by 31 July 2023.
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| Image: Busways |
