Regional bus passengers will be reminded to ‘Buckle up on the bus’ with the launch of Transport for NSW’s new advertising campaign which will appear on TV, radio, digital media, social media and regional print newspapers from today.
Howard Collins, Coordinator General at Transport for NSW said the advertising campaign is the second part of a program to encourage regional bus passengers to recognise that buckling up is mandatory on all buses fitted with seatbelts in NSW.
“The first phase of the campaign saw Transport for NSW install posters, stickers and decals on more than 2500 buses across regional NSW,” Mr Collins said.
“Research by Transport for NSW found that many bus passengers hadn’t considered the physics of a bus crash before - when the bus stops loose items continue to move at speed.
“The dramatic advertisement demonstrates what can happen to a passenger in a bus crash and why a seatbelt can make a significant difference to the outcome. It depicts a locket snapping off a passenger’s neck and flying through the air. The locket symbolises the connection to a loved one and their irreplaceable loss,” Mr Collins said.
The roll out of the campaign is a result of recommendations from the Bus Industry Taskforce formed last year to make recommendations to improve bus services, including ways to improve safety following the tragic Hunter Valley bus crash.
“As the campaign states ‘in the event of a crash, the bus will stop, you won’t”, this is why it’s so important that every adult follows their legal obligation to wear a seatbelt where available on a bus and that parents and carers talk to their children about the importance of wearing one too.
“The campaign tag line is ‘buckle up on the bus.’ Wearing a seatbelt doubles your chances of survival in a crash – it’s a simple act that is not only a legal requirement, but one that could save yours or your child’s life.
“I’m encouraging everyone to ‘buckle up on the bus’ every time there’s a seatbelt available,” Mr Collins said.
BusNSW Executive Director, Mr Matt Threlkeld welcomed the new campaign.
“The industry is seeking community support to build a culture where passengers, including school students, understand that wearing a seatbelt on a bus is not a personal choice, but a legal requirement,” Mr Threlked said.