Staying Safe Around Buses

Hawkesbury Police Area Command urged residents to take care around buses during Bus Awareness Week, February 20 to 26.

One of the places where being aware of buses and what they are doing is most important is around schools.

The hustle and bustle of drop-off and pick-up times can be very chaotic, with children and parents rushing to and fro and it can be cause for concern around buses if people aren’t aware of them.

Pedestrians, including school students, can be safe around buses with these simple tips.

• Plan ahead so they don’t need to rush for the bus;
• Always obey traffic signs and signals and cross the road with care, and only when safe to do so;
• Don’t use your phone or other mobile devices while walking to and from your destination to avoid becoming distracted;
• Stand back from the kerb when waiting for a bus;
• Wait until the bus has gone before using a safe place to cross the road;
• Hold your child’s hand when crossing the street; and
• Always meet your child at the school or bus stop, on the same side of the road as the bus.

One thing parents can do to help ensure their children are as safe as possible when around buses is to teach them to stop, look, listen and think every time they cross the road.

Teach them to stop one step back from the kerb, look continuously both ways, listen for sounds of approaching traffic and think about whether it was safe to cross and keep checking until they are safely on the other side.

It is also important for other drivers to recognise that there are special road rules when it comes to travelling around buses. One of the main reasons for these special rules is that buses share some similarities with trucks, including the fact that they cannot stop quickly.

Special rules include:

• Giving way to buses;
• Not merging too closely in front of buses;
• Keeping a safe distance between yourself and the bus in front of you;
• Slowing down to 40km/h when bus lights are flashing, unless a slower speed limit applies; and
• Be aware of a bus’ blind spot at the front, rear and sides of the bus.

• Topics:

• Road Safety