Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

"Give way" signs on buses - a new safety risk

posted Monday 20 February 2012

Sydney buses have a sign on the rear which requires following drivers to give way to buses leaving the kerb, or bus bay.

State Transit's newest buses, known as the CB80 (or B7) model, have varied former practice by having the give-way sign mounted very high on the rear panel, above the line of sight of following drivers, who are supposed to comply with it. APT asked the Minister for Transport to direct that the sign be lowered, on safety grounds. The Minister replied (31 October 2011) that on the CB80, the give way sign is mounted below the (uppermost) stop and blinker lights, in the same field of vision for all drivers behind the bus, "even those at a distance".

APT maintains that the CB80 give way sign is above the field of vision of the most relevant driver; the one immediately behind the bus. We therefore anticipate accidents, or at least, near misses, as CB80 bus drivers pull out from bus stops, but following motorists fail to give way.

We are considering our options.

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