School Bus Safety in Australia

Media Release

25 May 2001

Most road casualties involving children commuting to and from school by bus occur outside the bus, according to a report on school bus safety prepared by Austroads for  Australias Transport Ministers.

In three years of national data, just two out of 24 child fatalities associated with school buses were passengers in crash-involved buses. Two other children were trapped by the doors after they had partly exited a bus, and fatally injured when the bus moved off.

The most common bus-related fatalities involve children struck by other vehicles while crossing the road after leaving a bus on the way home from school.  About half of the cases on record involved bus stops on rural roads with a speed limit of 80 km/h or more.  In urban areas, the speed limits ranged from 60 to 100 km/h.

The report notes a significant reduction in child deaths and injuries associated with school bus travel during the 1990s.  It reviews safety measures already in place to improve the safety of children in and around buses, and suggests a comprehensive strategy, aimed at reducing the number of such deaths to zero by 2005.

As well as research and statistics, the draft School Bus Safety Action Plan in the report draws on results of extensive consultation, including workshops with parent and teacher groups, school associations, bus industry groups and other interested organisations.

The Action Plan lists current best-practice measures, and potential measures that require further evaluation or development.  Areas covered include:

• action to promote safer behaviour, including communication and awareness programs for children, parents, child carers, teachers, bus drivers and operators, and drivers in general;
• improvements to the road environment and traffic management, including design and location of bus stops;
• improvements to school buses and their design, ranging from occupant protection systems to flashing lights that warn motorists that a bus is stopping to pick up and/or drop off children.

Ministers agreed that a National School Bus Safety Advisory Group should be established within Austroads to carry this work forward.  The Group will monitor implementation of school bus safety initiatives, coordinate evaluation and research, and advise on priorities. 

Copies of the report will be available from ARRB Transport Research (03) 9881 1555

Media inquiries:
Adrian Beresford-Wylie
Austroads Road Safety Program Manager
  0418 962 529, 02 6274 7277

Last Updated: 9 June, 2005