SCHOOL buses in Port Macquarie, Wauchope and the region will soon be fitted out with seatbelts to improve student safety.
Deputy Premier and Oxley MP Andrew Stoner said the seatbelts would be installed on buses dedicated to school runs.
“We have listened to the views of people in rural and regional communities like the Mid North Coast and we are taking action,” the Wauchope-based MP said.
“This is a significant investment by the State Government in the safety of children in regional and rural NSW and a first for this state.”
Mr Stoner said school bus safety had been an important issue for many parents of students in the region.
Seatbelts will progressively be installed and standing phased out on almost 1700 dedicated school services over 10 years, starting this financial year. The rollout of seatbelts is estimated to cost around $208 million over the period.
“There are more than 60,000 students across regional and rural NSW who travel on these dedicated school buses every weekday, covering more than 50 million kilometres each year,” Mr Stoner said.
“School bus safety is an important issue and I’m pleased our government has responded to community concerns with a significant program of improvements which includes a major financial investment.”
