Busways is reminding the Central Coast community to behave safely on and around buses during the 10th annual Transport for NSW Bus Safety Week, which runs from February 17-23.
Head of Service Delivery Steven Hawkins said pedestrians, cyclists, passengers and drivers needed to be bus aware and take steps to avoid preventable incidents.
He said buses had four main blind spots, which could pose risks to other road users.
“Motorists are reminded to keep a safe distance from buses, slow down to 40km/h when bus lights are flashing, as children may be crossing the road, avoid cutting in front of buses, and give way when they are merging into traffic,” he said.
“Pedestrians are reminded to look up from their phones and look out for buses.
“Safety is everyone’s responsibility.
“In the past year, we’ve seen over 1,500 preventable incidents, including over 130 on the Central Coast alone.”
Hawkins said one of the most common causes of incidents was motorists cutting in front of a bus, causing a driver to have to brake suddenly.
“Buses are big heavy vehicles that take time to slow, and we ask motorists to give way to buses and not cut in front,” he said.
“Another common safety issue is people on their phones, not checking properly for buses, or coming out suddenly in front of or behind a bus when other traffic cannot see them.
“Whether you’re driving, walking, or cycling, it’s important to stay alert and be bus aware.
“By working together, we can reduce these numbers and ensure everyone gets home safely.”
Transport for NSW reports that since 2019, there have been 45 fatalities from bus-related crashes across the state.
These include 13 pedestrians, six drivers of vehicles other than a bus, seven motorcyclists, four bus drivers, 11 bus passengers, three passengers of vehicles other than a bus, and one cyclist.
To learn more, visit the Be Bus Aware website or follow NSW Road Safety on Facebook.
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