Safety, as we know it in the bus and coach sector, is always changing. The nature of safety and compliance in Australian buses is set to evolve in the next year as regulations come into place reflecting the events of recent years.
From November, Australian Design Rule (ADR) 68/01 will come into place, formally raising the compliance bar for seatbelt reminder systems in applicable buses. The ADR, which focuses on occupant protection in certain buses, is a direct response to the Hunter Valley bus crash in 2023 and resulting industry lobbying. The ADR requires any applicable new bus and coach models fitted with seatbelts to also be fitted with visual signage and audio announcements for seatbelt wearing from November 1 this year. Exactly a year later, these systems will need to be on all applicable new buses that are fitted with seatbelts.
This requirement means there’s been a gap in the market for this exact technology in the local bus and coach sector. This is where Solid Circuit has stepped in, having released and delivered its Safe-Ride retrofittable seatbelt alert system to make buses safer than ever before.
“For bus body builders, this is not simply a documentation exercise – it is a design integration requirement,” Solid Circuit’s Kieran McHatton told ABC.
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“Vehicles must now incorporate compliant visual and/or audible seatbelt reminder functionality that meets the intent of occupant safety legislation while maintaining reliability, durability and OEM-level presentation. Safe-Ride has been developed specifically to address this requirement.”
Designed and supplied by Solid Circuit Enterprises, Safe-Ride is a purpose-built seatbelt reminder system engineered for seamless integration into new bus builds as well as retrofit applications. The system acts as a multi-function alert system to remind passengers to ‘wear their seatbelts’. However, it also doubles as a reminder for passengers to ‘tap on’ as they enter a bus.
It was designed with the installers in mind, with the system able to be activated by high or low door open and close signals. McHatton says the system was designed to be ready for a government retrofit in the wake of a recent industry tragedy. The system interfaces with door signals and existing electrical architecture, triggering clear, high-visibility ‘fasten seatbelt’ signage and optional audio prompts when doors close.
“This product started with Solid Circuit manufacturing its own ‘Fasten Seatbelt’ sign with larger text than what was available and we have since manufactured the signs in a couple of sizes,” McHatton says.
“Then, when the ADR came out, we spec’d a second version of Safe-Ride and called it Safe-Ride 2.0 with small tweaks to meet the new requirements.”
The objective is simple – to deliver a consistent and automatic reminder that’s aligned with ADR 68/01 without adding complexity to the build. For body builders, integration is designed to be straightforward. The system can operate via door trigger inputs and connects to vehicle speaker systems through relay-controlled outputs. The Safe-Ride system works by broadcasting over the existing speaker system on a bus. This provides two advantages – it results in less work during the installation process and it becomes a cheaper option because there’s no need to install and duplicate speaker sets.
“We’re just simply utilising one speaker channel momentarily when the fasten seatbelt announcement is made and we then re-set it,” McHatton says.
“Music can keep playing on the bus, the announcement specified in the ADR just plays on the left channel before returning to the sound being played prior.”
When it comes to the visual side of Solid Circuit’s system, signage is available in OEM-grade black with high-contract yellow text for maximum passenger visibility. The modular design allows configuration for single or dual-door buses, ensuring compliance logic remains consistent across different layouts.
“The illuminated signs can be made to order, although we have two standard sizes that have proved to suit all applications to date,” McHatton says.
“We designed Safe-Ride before we were aware of ADR68/01 prescribing similar features. As we had already designed the platform, there were only minor changes required to meet the new standard.
“As our system was designed specifically for ease of install, we have designed the system as plug and play. As we also do, we have added additional options such as an announcement on ‘door open’. This allows coaches to have a welcome message as passengers board if they so wish.”
The Safe-Ride system joins other safety products in Solid Circuit’s stable, including Safe-Check, Safe-Brake and Safe-Alert that each address different critical aspects of vehicle operation and safety compliance.
Beyond compliance, Safe-Ride offers a commercial advantage for operators around the country. McHatton says these businesses increasingly demand demonstrable safety features, particularly in school, charter and regional fleets. By integrating a compliant seatbelt reminder system to existing buses, it positions operators as proactive partners in passenger safety, rather than reactive participants to regulatory change.
The Australian-owned and operated company is continuing to roll out the model to more and more operators ahead of the ADR first coming into effect later this year. McHatton says it’s a clear tailor-made option for operators to help them remain at the cutting edge of safety and compliance.
“For fleets seeking retrofit solutions ahead of November, Safe-Ride also provides an industry-ready upgrade pathway,” he says.
“ADR 68/01 is now a legislative requirement. Safe-Ride ensures compliance is achieved professionally, efficiently and with minimal engineering friction – enabling bus body builders to deliver vehicles that are compliant.”
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