One Day Left To Sign Bus Safety Petition

BY OLIVIA DILLON

The families of those killed in the Greta wedding bus crash are asking locals to sign a petition, calling for all buses in Australia to be fitted with seatbelts. 

The petition, launched by the Stop Bus Tragedies Taskforce, has so far garnered more than 6,300 signatures. 

It closes on Thursday the 31st of August, 2023 at 11:59pm. 

The Taskforce has also developed a seven-point plan to improve bus safety across the country, and is in discussion with both the state government, and the Federal Transport Minister. 

A link to the petition can be found on the Stop Bus Tragedies Facebook page. 

Taskforce set to investigate the safety of buses

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.

Image: Busways