Busways, the company responsible for transporting students to and from schools in the Great Lakes area, will be introducing new seat belt-fitted school buses to its daily runs throughout 2019.
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“The seat belt-fitted buses are part of Transport for NSW’s planned investment in the installation of seat belts on buses dedicated to school runs in regional areas,” Busways communications officer, Jade Aliprandi, said.
The investment, which was first announced back in 2013, saw the NSW government promise more than $200 million for the installation of seat belts on regional school buses following recommendations made by the Independent School Bus Safety Community Advisory Committee’s inquiry into school bus safety in rural and regional NSW.
The seat belt-fitted school buses will be rolled out across regional areas of the State from this month, with the project due to be completed by December.
Once the buses have been introduced, all drivers and passengers will be required by law to wear the seat belts.
“Drivers will undertake training covering seat belt regulations and responsibilities and will verbally remind students to fasten their seat belts,’ Ms Aliprandi advised.
In addition to introducing seat belts, Ms Aliprandi said Busways had also implemented further safety innovations to their Volvo model school buses, including modernised evacuation side doors and an engine retarder.
“Busways has always been an advocate for measures that improve safety on and around buses and is continually monitoring and improving vehicle safety features where possible,” she said.
In addition to servicing schools around the Great Lakes, Busways also transports students to and from school in many areas of the Mid North Coast, from Heatherbrae in the south to Yamba in the north.
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