It’s been nearly half a year since a new Australian Design Rule (ADR) was launched to make passengers safer in the nation’s buses and coaches. In January, ADR 68/01 – Occupant Protection in Buses was announced to improve seatbelt wearing rates. Through visual and audible warning requirements commonly known as seatbelt reminder systems, the ADR regulates the installation and use of this technology to ensure more patrons wear their seatbelts correctly.
This doesn’t mean it’s been a clearcut move for the nation’s bus and coach industry. ABC caught up with Dean Moule, the national technical manager of the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC), to help provide a clear explainer so all members of the sector understand their responsibilities to meet the new ADR.
“There was a need to improve occupant safety, specifically seatbelt usage in buses where they are provided,” he told ABC.
“The whole idea is light on technology – it’s about simple and long lasting in-vehicle measures that are designed to be supported by bus seatbelt education programs and public awareness campaigns.”
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The ADR was introduced as a direct response to the Hunter Valley bus crash in 2023 and industry lobbying. The requirements of the rule was for any new bus and coach models fitted with seatbelts to also be fitted with visual signage and audio announcements for seatbelt wearing from November 1, 2026 for new models. From November 1, 2027, these systems will need to be on all new buses that are fitted with seatbelts.
But what constitutes a sufficient seatbelt reminder system? Moule says the visual and audio alerts need to encourage usage where three-point seatbelts are already fitted. This includes a label on the back of each seat with the words ‘fasten seatbelt while seated’, a lit sign on each cabin bulkheads saying ‘fasten seatbelt’ and an audio announcement saying ‘please fasten seatbelt while seated’ when the last door closes.
The wording of the ADR, like most ADRs, means the industry doesn’t need to worry about fitting these systems onto existing buses with seatbelts.
“As a general rule, ADRs are not retrospective – they are a design or safety improvement from a specific date,” he says.
The ADR only applies to vehicles that have seatbelts fitted, but there are exemptions included.
If it is a ‘route service omnibus’ not equipped with any passenger ‘seatbelt assemblies’, or “an omnibus with less than 17 seats including the driver”, it is exempt from meeting the ADR. By the letter of the law, this means any bus with space specially designed for standing passengers is exempt from fitting seatbelts for passengers.
Furthermore, there’s no volume specification for the audible announcement in the ADR, although it must be audible to all passengers. There are also no variations on the wording that can be used, as specified in the ADR.
Moule says BIC’s aim is to now call for further seatbelt laws that make bus passengers safer than ever before.
“We want drivers to focus on the road, and this helps by giving them one less thing to worry about,” he says.
“We still want national uniformity on seatbelts on dedicated government school bus services. We will continue to advocate this for our members until there is uniformity.
“Safety is not expensive, it’s priceless.”
BIC has also published a frequently asked questions (FAQ) guide to support industry, which is available on their website at bic.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/Seatbelt-ADR-68-01-FAQ-April-2025.pdf
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