On 28 August 2023, the BIC presented a Bus Safety Initiatives Paper at a Bus Safety Ministerial Roundtable hosted by Senator Carol Brown – Federal Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. The Paper provides 8 key recommendations to further enhance bus safety – the vehicle, the passenger and other road users.
The Paper broadly captures 3 main outcomes:
- Uptake of new technologies
- Educate the community about bus safety through national campaigns
- Enhance the ability to background check drivers.
Key recommendations include:
- Adoption of Event Data Loggers (for event investigations purposes) into new vehicles in alignment with European regulations and a set of standard data metrics for existing buses.
- Adoption of Intelligent Speed Assist Systems into new vehicles in alignment with European regulations.
- Fast-tracking vehicle replacement programs that incorporate new technology systems such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and other appropriate systems.
- Implementing a national harmonised approach to bus safety awareness. This is aimed at both:
- Education in schools; and
- Education of general public.
- A full review of Australian Design Rule 68 to:
- Clearly state seat belt requirements in the ADRs thereby removing anomalies
- Remove standees on buses equipped with seat belts (except in Emergency)
- Increased warning devices and labelling in vehicles to increase usage of seatbelts.
- Investigate feasibility of introducing seat belts on new Route Service buses typically low floor city buses and these vehicles undertaking specific Service type applications.
- Review the level of obtainable information for driver employment checks.
- Continue Driver Fatigue reforms through the National Heavy Vehicle Law Review and investigate feasibility of introducing driver fatigue monitoring systems.
