Central Coast bus operator Busways has reminded road users to be vigilant when behind the wheel, especially around large vehicles like buses, as part of National Road Safety Week which ends on November 22.
Busways’ 303 drivers in the region took a pledge this week to “drive so others survive” as part of a national campaign to remind all road users of the influence they have on our roads.
Busways Gosford Assistant Manager, Rachel Predebon, said by participating in the campaign, the company was encouraging safe driving.
“The National Road Safety Week message is simple: slow down, look out for others (and) make safe decisions so no one is injured or killed,” Predebon said.
“This includes being safe around buses and not cutting in front of them as they are heavy vehicles that can’t stop quickly.
“Motorists should also be aware of the flashing lights on the back of the bus; they alert them to when children might be crossing the road or when the bus is looking to pull away from the kerb.”
Busways Managing Director Byron Rowe said safety was always top priority for the company’s workforce.
“While we hold responsibility ourselves, it’s important other road users remember that buses are large heavy vehicles that can’t stop quickly,” he said.
“All road users, pedestrians and passengers have a part to play when it comes to road safety.
“When incidents occur, the mental and physical toll it can have on bus drivers and the public can be colossal, depending on the severity of the incident.
“Education campaigns and programs such as National Road Safety Week and Busways’ Driver Training Program are core to building our safety culture.
“The reality is that many road safety incidents are preventable if people pay attention on the road and respect road rules around heavy vehicles.”
In the five years from 2015 to 2019, 34 people were killed and 295 seriously injured in heavy bus crashes across NSW.
Of the 34 people killed 13 were pedestrians, 11 were drivers, six were passengers, three were motorcyclists and one was a pedal cyclist.
National Road Safety Week is an annual initiative highlighting the impact of road trauma and ways to reduce it.
People can take the pledge ‘drive so others survive’ with daily themes reinforcing various important messages about safe driving.
Busways advised motorists they should always leave a safe distance between them and a bus and not to sit in a bus’s blind spot (along the entire passenger side of the vehicle, directly behind the vehicle and beside the driver’s door) and to remember to slow down to 40km/h when bus lights flash.
Source:
Media release, Nov 16
Busways