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NEWS<br />
2021 NSW BUS<br />
SAFETY WEEK<br />
A FASCINATINGLY<br />
says the statistics show when<br />
thought-provoking and<br />
it comes to crashes involving a<br />
disturbing bus incident video<br />
bus, most fatalities and serious<br />
issued during NSW Bus Safety<br />
injuries occur in metropolitan<br />
Week is a timely reminder of<br />
areas.<br />
what drivers encounter all too<br />
“We see some really dangerous<br />
often out on our roads.<br />
behaviour around buses and it’s<br />
distances from school buses and<br />
The CCTV footage of foolhardy<br />
quite shocking to think people<br />
to slow to 40km/h when they see<br />
people ineptly navigating their<br />
would put themselves and<br />
the flashing lights, as it means<br />
way around buses – with footage<br />
others at risk like that,” Minister<br />
children are getting on or off<br />
taken from Port Macquarie and<br />
Constance said.<br />
the bus and could move out<br />
Blacktown areas – is a poignant<br />
“Fortunately, bus crashes did<br />
onto the road from a buses’<br />
and striking reminder for all of<br />
drop during 2020, but we also<br />
blind spots.<br />
the need to be ‘safety aware’ at<br />
had fewer people out and about.<br />
“Unfortunately, in the last<br />
all times in and around public<br />
As everyone starts returning<br />
12 months there were over<br />
transport vehicles.<br />
to work and coming back into<br />
170 avoidable safety incidents<br />
Although a year-’round issue,<br />
our busier areas, we really need<br />
around buses in Western<br />
Busways is urging everyone to<br />
everyone to pay attention, be<br />
Sydney,” said Busways Western<br />
stay safe and be alert on and<br />
aware and stay alert.”<br />
Sydney service delivery manager<br />
around buses in general, as<br />
NSW Bus Safety Week kicked<br />
REVEALING STATS<br />
Steven Hawkins.<br />
“Penrith has 24 per cent of<br />
off for a sixth year on Monday,<br />
During the five-year period up to<br />
these incidents, with the highest<br />
February 22.<br />
June, 2020, a total of 34 people<br />
causes being passengers not<br />
With Busways operating<br />
almost 330 buses in Western<br />
Sydney and almost 280 buses<br />
on the NSW mid-North Coast,<br />
it’s ardently behind Bus Safety<br />
Week, which aims to improve<br />
the safety of pedestrians, riders,<br />
passengers and drivers, helping<br />
to reduce injuries and lives lost<br />
on NSW roads, it states.<br />
Bus Safety Week minister for<br />
transport Andrew Constance<br />
were killed in crashes involving<br />
buses in NSW, Busways states.<br />
Of the 34 fatalities, 15 were<br />
pedestrians. During the same<br />
five-year period, 362 people were<br />
seriously injured in bus crashes<br />
including, 69 pedestrians and 18<br />
bicycle riders, it explains.<br />
SPEED AND SPACE<br />
Bus Safety Week is also a time<br />
to remind drivers to keep safe<br />
Above:<br />
In Penrith, most<br />
accidents on<br />
buses were<br />
caused by<br />
passengers<br />
not holding on,<br />
sudden braking<br />
from cars cutting<br />
in front of buses<br />
and passengers<br />
tripping when<br />
alighting or<br />
disembarking<br />
from the bus.<br />
holding on while travelling,<br />
heavy braking on the bus<br />
due to a car cutting in front<br />
of the bus, and passengers<br />
tripping while getting on or<br />
off the bus.<br />
“We all have a part to play<br />
in bus safety, and Busways<br />
encourages all road users to<br />
Be Bus Aware and act safely so<br />
everyone can get home to their<br />
loved ones,” he said.<br />
14<br />
<strong>ABC</strong> March 2021 busnews.com.au
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