Safety around buses and trucks

When on foot take extra care around buses:

• Plan ahead and don't rush for the bus.

• Be in the moment and put your phone away.

• Stand well back from the kerb when waiting for a bus.

• Don’t cross the road around the bus – buses can have large blind spots and the driver may not see you. Wait until the bus has gone then cross at the safest place. 

Buses are heavy vehicles that can’t stop quickly and can cause serious outcomes for other road users in a crash. Drivers and riders need to be especially vigilant around buses. 

• Give way to buses. They need more time to manoeuvre and appreciate your patience.

• Leave a safe distance – do not merge too closely in front of buses. 

• Buses can have large blind spots – the driver may not see you. Typical blind spots include the entire passenger side of the vehicle, directly behind the vehicle, at the front of the vehicle, and beside the driver’s door. 

• Do not overtake a turning bus - buses need room to turn corners or navigate other obstacles like roundabouts.

• Remember to slow down to 40km/h when bus lights flash

Bus travel is one of the safest ways to get kids to and from school. In fact, the risks around bus travel are mainly associated with children approaching or leaving the bus. 

School pick up and drop off time can be very exciting and children can be very easily distracted. Teaching kids how to behave to stay safe around buses is a responsibility that we should all take very seriously.

Navigating the world of public transport is an important life skill for teenagers – and can trigger a whole range of emotions for their parents and carers! 

• Discover together which bus service is going to be the best – explore on-line options and apps, but don’t forget old-school timetables!

• Talk about what they can do if the bus is late, doesn’t arrive, or they accidently get on the wrong one. 

• Review bus etiquette and emphasise your expectation they are courteous to other passengers.

• Remind them how to be a safe pedestrian around buses.

• Make sure they know your phone number for an emergency – remember that all Telstra public payphones are free for calls around Australia.

Trucks are a feature of our urban road environments – from large garbage trucks and construction vehicles to smaller trucks delivering goods right into our homes. 

Pedestrian safety around trucks

When walking around always be aware of truck movement - especially near large urban construction sites and loading docks of supermarkets and shopping centres. 

• Trucks take up more room so make sure you use the footpath or verge where possible.

• Always assume a truck driver cannot see you and take extra caution. 

• Be careful of the blind spots around trucks. Never walk behind a truck while it is backing up.

• When crossing the road always cross at the safest place and use the designated pedestrian crossing infrastructure. But remember that a truck will always need more space to stop than a car.

• Put your phone away and pay attention when crossing the road.

Driving safely around trucks

It is important to be especially aware of your safety when driving around trucks. Trucks have larger blind spots, cannot manoeuvre as easily, and take longer to stop than other vehicles.

• Avoid blind spots. If you cannot see the truck’s side mirrors, chances are the truck driver cannot see you.

• Give the truck room to turn. Heavy vehicles may need to take up more than one lane when turning at intersections and roundabouts. Make sure you give them enough room. Do not assume they can stay completely in their own lane.

• Avoid merging right in front of a truck. Trucks take longer to slow down, and a sudden lane change may not give the driver enough time to avoid crashing into you.

• Be patient when overtaking a truck and use an overtaking lane whenever possible.