In recent months, BIC actively participated in the Bus Safety Working Group (see May issue), focusing on revisions to ADR 68 – Occupant Protection in Buses. These changes aim to increase seat belt use and eliminate the exemption allowing some coaches to operate without seatbelts.
Key revisions include:
- Enhancing seat belt compliance through reminder systems:
a. An announcement to wear seat belts when the door closes.
b. A label on the modesty panel or each seatback stating: “Fasten seat belts whilst seated.”
c. A lit sign on the cabin bulkhead instructing passengers to fasten seat belts. - Removing the exemption for seats under 1 meter high from not requiring seat belts.
These changes are not intended to be retrospective but will apply to new vehicles sold from the end of November 2026 (current proposed date).
Buses equipped with seat belts will continue to be permitted to carry standees (where designed to do so), while a larger proposed study evaluating the safety and commercial implications of potentially removing standees from such buses is considered—an issue raised by BIC in last year’s Safety Initiatives paper.
Any questions?
Feel free to contact Dean Moule, National Technical Manager, directly.
