Road Safety

Motorists

• Lights flash on buses to warn motorists that buses are picking up and dropping off children.
• You must slow down to 40km/h when overtaking or passing a bus displaying flashing lights, unless a lower speed limit applies.
• You can help keep children safe by:
  • sticking to the speed limit and following the road rules in school zones
  • slowing down to 40km/h when bus lights are flashing, unless a lower speed limit applies
  • looking out for children crossing the road near bus stops, in school zones or along bus routes
  • giving way to buses when they merge back into traffic.
• For more information visit www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/road-users/drivers/be-bus-aware#Bus_flashing_lights

Parents and carers

• You're responsible for getting your child to and from the bus stop safely.
• When travelling by bus, your child is most at risk in the minutes after they get off the bus.
• Always supervise your child and hold their hand when walking to and from the bus stop and when crossing the road, until they're at least 10 years old.
• Meet your child at the designated stop time on the same side of the road as the bus stop – never call your child across the road.
• Remind your children to always wait until the bus has gone before choosing a safe place to cross the road.
• Talk to your children about Stop! Look! Listen! Think! every time they cross the road:
  • Stop one step back from the kerb
  • Look continuously both ways
  • Listen for the sounds of approaching traffic
  • Think whether it's safe to cross and keep checking until safely across.
• Encourage your child to take a seat quickly when they get on the bus and to buckle up if the bus has seatbelts.
• Talk to and remind your child to get off the bus at their designated stop.
• Safety Town - our road safety website for primary school students, teachers and families - contains information for families around driving safely around buses and also around getting children to and from the bus stop safely. 
• If you've recently moved, or your child is starting or changing schools, make sure you plan your trip in advance. These fact sheets provide information on getting your child to and from school safely.
• Does your child use a rural bus stop that doesn’t have signage or other infrastructure? Think about whether it’s located in a safe spot that allows buses to stop away from the road, with good lines of sight in both directions, and includes a safe space for you to park your vehicle and wait. You can talk to your local bus operator or learn more here.
• More information is available in this brochure: Bus safety for school students: How families can help.
• For more information visit www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/road-users/drivers/be-bus-aware#Bus_flashing_lights