Bus Safety Week 23 Feb to 1 Mar 2026 - Get on board!

04 Feb 2026

Bus Safety Week, which is part the annual Be Bus Aware campaign, will be held from Monday 23 February to Sunday 1 March 2026.

Between 2020 and 2024 there have been 40 fatalities from bus crashes in NSW. Of the 40 fatalities:

• Nine (23%) were pedestrians, nine (22%) were drivers (of vehicles other than a bus), five (13%) were motorcyclists, four (10%) were bus drivers, two (5%) were passengers (of vehicles other than a bus) and 11 (27%) were bus passengers (data as at 8th October 2025).

Bus Safety Week aims to highlight for all road users how to stay safe on and around buses. The Statewide campaign targets all road users, including CALD communities, highlighting key messages around bus blind spots, bus stopping distances, pedestrian safety and more.

Here are some tips for how to keep you and our most vulnerable safe on and around buses:

Pedestrians

• Plan ahead and don't rush for the bus
• Obey traffic signals and cross with care
• Avoid being distracted by mobile devices
• Stand back from the kerb when waiting for a bus
• Wait until the bus has gone then use a safe place to cross the road.

Parents and carers

• School-aged children might seem independent, but they still need a hand. 
• Remember to help you and your children stay bus safe: 
  • Always meet your child at school or the bus stop, never wait on the opposite side of the road and call them across 
  • Always supervise your child and hold their hand when walking to and from the bus stop or interchange and when crossing the road until they're at least 10 years old.  
• Wait until the bus has gone then use a safe place to cross the road 
• Encourage your child to take a seat quickly when they get on the bus and to buckle up if the bus has seatbelts
• Teach your child to Stop! Look! Listen! Think! every time they cross the road.

Drivers

• Slow down to 40km/h when bus lights flash, unless a lower speed limit applies, as this means the bus is picking up or dropping off school children 
• Give way to buses 
• Don't cut in front of buses 

Be aware of a bus’s blind spots at the front, rear and sides of the bus. 

Riders

• Be aware of a bus’s blind spots at the front, rear and sides of the bus
• Avoid lane filtering near buses
• Buses may be longer than expected. Take care when changing lanes around buses
• Avoid trying to overtake a bus when it is turning. Buses need extra space and may take up more than one lane
• Always follow the road rules and ride with care.

Campaign channels include:

• Digital audio (including Spotify) introduced for the first time in 2026
• Social media, including Facebook advertising 
• Promotion on buses and selected bus stops and train stations
• Variable Message Signs (VMS)
• Content for partners and stakeholders to share, including videos, web tiles, posters and brochure.

In 2026, these assets have been refreshed with an updated look and feel. To view or share the communication toolkit, please visit https://collaborationhub.towardszero.nsw.gov.au/news-activities/communications-toolkits/be-bus-aware

Get involved

• Please use and share the assets available in the communications toolkit. Please send us examples of promotion in your community 
• Follow NSW Road Safety Facebook to ‘Like’ and share posts.
• Visit www.BeBusAware.com.au to find out more about bus safety.
• Contact us if you have any questions.

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