NEW SIGN STANDARDS WELCOMED BY INDUSTRY

The introduction of new signage for school buses in Tasmania is an initiative that should be applied nationally, TasBus General Manager Geoff Lewis said.

Mr Lewis said the introduction of improved 40km/h speed limit signs on school buses today brought Tasmania into line with New South Wales and Queensland.

“Through the Bus Industry Confederation, TasBus has suggested there be a national standard for all states for school bus signage and flashing lights,” he said.

“We have been working with the Road Safety Division of the Department for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER) for some time to develop the new sign standards.

“We took up the issue following complaints from members that motorists ignored the speed restrictions when school bus lights were activated.

“The new signage is designed to clearly convey to motorists that they are required to slow to 40km/h when within 50 metres of a bus with flashing lights.”

The Tasmanian bus industry transports more than 30,000 students to and from school every day.

Mr Lewis said school bus travel remained the safest form of transport for students to and from school.

“National statistics reveal that bus travel is seven times safer than traveling to and from school in the family car,” he said.

Mr Lewis said more than 90 per cent of all accidents involving school children and buses happened outside of the bus when students were walking to or from the bus.

“TasBus and DIER recently launched a code of behaviour for student bus travel which is essentially an agreement between the school, the bus operator, students and parents,” he said.

“The section of the code for parents, asks that they drop off or pick up their children from the same side of the road as the bus.”

Mr Lewis urged all motorists to slow down to 40km/h whenever near a school bus with its lights activated.

For further information contact:

Geoff Lewis 0409 287 678