Safety concerns for school bus

Parents of Shellharbour Anglican College students are calling on Kiama MP Gareth Ward to intervene after Transport for NSW refused to fix an unsafe and overcrowded public school bus that services south of the school.

Katharine Haynes, mum of an 8 year old daughter and 11 year old son who both ride the bus to the end of the line in Kiama, was amazed when she saw no seatbelts on the bus, which travels on the highway, and up to 19 students standing in the aisle.

“That was the week before that terrible bus accident in Victoria. If that happens to this bus, it would be tragic,” Katharine says.

According to Katharine, Shellharbour Anglican College pre-empted the overcrowding last year and sent an application to Transport for NSW for extra buses. However, this was declined due to students having reasonable access to a at all,” Katharine says.

“The train doesn’t work for high school students either because they finish 15 minutes later and miss the train.

“The only solution is more buses and safer buses.”

Parents have been concerned since the start of the year and have been in conversation with the school, but after Victoria’s horror bus crash that saw several students face life-changing injuries, they want action now.

“When the school gets knocked back by Transport for NSW, what do they do then? It’s a State Government issue now,” Katharine places too.”

Mr Ward describes the situation as “totally unacceptable” and, in response to Katharine, has launched an online petition to ensure all school buses in the Kiama electorate are fitted with a seatbelt.

“Every child should have a seat and a seat belt,” Mr Ward said. “We can’t have kids not protected when travelling to school, especially on roads with high speed limits.

“I encourage parents and our local school community to sign my petition urging the NSW Government to act now and expand the NSW Rural and Regional Bus Seatbelt Program to ensure every child gets to school safely.”

Mr Ward has also put a question on notice to Parliament, asking the Minister for Regional Transport and