DRIVE Spring 2023 Edition

SPRING 2023

Inside Bus Industry Taskforce Modified vehicle training and investigations R-Safety app now available Modified vehicle emissions testing

BUS INDUSTRY

BusNSW 2023 conference The annual BusNSW Member Conference took place from 4 – 5 October 2023 in Wollongong.

With the creation of the Bus Industry Taskforce and other developments across the industry, there was a packed agenda for the conference, which featured a presentation from the Minister for Transport Jo Haylen.

The theme for this year’s conference was “Embracing Transformation for a Sustainable Future” and topics included: zero emission bus transition bus procurement and new technology rural and regional contract renewal staff recruitment and retention industrial relations reforms BusNSW industry insights.

Sally Web, Deputy Secretary, Safety, Environment and Regulation at Transport for NSW (Transport) also presented at the conference. Sally’s presentation provided an industry data overview and highlighted key achievements in the bus sector for Transport.

Sally urged bus operators to focus on three key safety priorities, including seatbelts, safety of children on buses, and reducing the incidence of slips, trips and falls.

Making it easier to become a bus driver Transport has progressed the immediate Driver Authority improvement actions recommended by the Bus Industry Taskforce on 31 May 2023.

Transport has already actioned the 12-month $70 fee waiver for new bus driver authority (BDA) applications.

On 26 October 2023, Transport implemented the remaining changes to make it quicker, easier and cheaper for people to get their BDA. Transport will require that all applicants pass a commercial medical fitness assessment before submitting their application Applicants will no longer need to upload a hard copy medical assessment document with their application. Applicants should make sure their doctor submits their commercial medical assessment online using HealthLink; and answers ‘YES’ on the medical form to the question: “Is this medical for the purpose of driving public passenger vehicles? ” Remove the need for Transport to confirm an applicant’s Australian citizenship or employment visa status.

Allow drivers over the age of 25 years to apply if they hold a current unrestricted Australian driver licence and have held any kind of Australian driver licence (except a learner licence), or a nationally recognised overseas driver licence, for at least three years.

Enable electronic issue of documents. where bus drivers will soon be able to receive important notifications in real-time, such as those regarding the status of their BDA application.

With the first Bus Industry Taskforce recommendations already being actioned by Transport, it showcases industry and government working together to improve the delivery of bus services in NSW to meet community needs.

First Safety Report of the Bus Industry Taskforce

Seatbelt safety campaign On Thursday 12 October 2023, the NSW Government announced it had received the First Safety Report of the Bus Industry Taskforce and accepted all five recommendations.

One of these recommendations was the implementation of a road safety campaign to promote seatbelt usage on buses (including by school children on school buses).

As a result, a new campaign “Using a bus? Use a belt” has been launched, to remind everyone they must buckle up whenever there’s a seatbelt available on a bus. The new campaign aims to raise awareness, change behaviour and educate passengers about the importance and legal requirements of wearing a seatbelt.

It also highlights how seatbelts can keep you safe on the bus and fosters a culture of seatbelt usage among bus passengers.

The support of the bus industry for this new seatbelt safety campaign is critical and we greatly appreciate your support promoting the “Using a bus? Use a belt” message as broadly as possible across the NSW bus network.

A suite of communication resources is currently in production to help promote this important message and will be sent through to bus industry contacts once finalised. Further updates on the progress of the recommendations from the Bus Industry Taskforce will also continue to be shared in future editions of DRIVE magazine.

Bus fire safety report The Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI) has completed an investigation into bus fires and thermal incidents on NSW buses from 2013 – 2022. Recommendations from the report include expanding the use of fire suppression systems in the fleet, increasing the effectiveness of fire mitigation technologies on buses, and improving the collection of data to better understand and address bus fire safety.

Bus fire and thermal incidents from 2013 to 2022 are estimated to have cost NSW $203 million. This includes destruction or significant damage of 52 buses and an average of 30 minutes lost by every onboard bus passenger due to travel delays arising from these incidents.

Lane Cove tunnel fire The final Bus Safety Investigation Report from the independent safety investigation into a bus fire inside the Lane Cove Tunnel (LCT) in April 2022 is now available to view via the OTSI website.

While emergencies and fires within tunnels are rare, they present a potentially high consequence risk, particularly for buses due to the number of passengers on the vehicle.

Without further improvement in bus fire safety, it is projected that these incidents will continue to rise, costing NSW a further $265 million over the next decade.

A presentation was held on 27 September 2023 to expand on the insights uncovered in this report.

You can view a recording of the presentation here.

Bus operators should review their driver emergency evacuation training and procedures to ensure that information relevant to fire and life safety systems in tunnels is provided to drivers.

The review should consider the risks and required response by drivers for emergencies on their bus. It should also include how they should evacuate passengers to a safe place if needed, in addition to responding to emergencies involving other vehicles in tunnels.

MODIFIED VEHICLES

Safety focus: modified vehicles Modifying a vehicle can affect the operation of critical systems which keep people safe on our roads and may also impact compliance with Australian Design Rules (ADR).

“Under the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2017, it is an offence to significantly modify a vehicle in a manner that results in the vehicle no longer complying with ADRs,” explains Leigh Grant, Manager Vehicle Technology.

“When significantly modifying a vehicle, it must be certified through the Vehicle Safety Compliance Certification Scheme (VSCCS), by a Licensed Certifier to ensure ongoing compliance with ADRs. “Significant modifications that have not been approved by a VSCCS certifier can lead to unsafe vehicles on our roads. VSCCS Licensed Certifiers play a critical role in ensuring only compliant and safe vehicles are registered.”

Vehicle Standards Information Sheet 6 (VSI 06) provides information to determine when a modification is significant and requires certification. Some common signs of a significant modification are: Suspension height changes by more than one third of the manufacturer’s suspension travel or by greater than 50mm Replacement of tyres that change overall diameter by more than seven per cent or increase the tyre width by more than 50 per cent over the vehicle manufacturer’s largest option (off-road tyre) Fitting of turbochargers or superchargers not originally offered by vehicle manufacturer or increasing the original power output by more than 20 per cent Fitting non-original intake or exhaust systems which may impact emissions or noise levels compliance with ADRs (e.g. removing an exhaust’s catalytic converter) Modifying the structure of the vehicle, including roof, body, seating capacity, wheel tubs or chassis Altering or substituting original equipment seating, seatbelts, steering wheel or removing/disabling SRS (airbag) systems.

If a vehicle is found with an uncertified significant modification, this contravenes both the Regulation and the AIS rules and vehicle owners can be issued with a defect and penalty notice if found to have significant modifications that are not covered by a valid certificate.

If you suspect that a vehicle has been significantly modified, you can: talk to the registered vehicle owner to determine if the vehicle is certified, and consult the AIS Business Rules and the resources provided (VSI 06) to determine if action needs to be taken.

For any concerns in relation to compliance of a significantly modified vehicle, please email Vehicle.safety@transport.nsw.gov.au.

Modified vehicle training in Bathurst NSW police officers from Bathurst, Orange and Lithgow recently attended a three-day training course run by Partnerships and Regulatory Assurance in Regulatory Operations on ways to identify unsafe and illegally modified vehicles.

The first two days of training, held at Bathurst TAFE, involved classroom-style learning and practical assessments to provide the police officers with the confidence and knowledge to conduct vehicle assessments on the road. The training went through the more common modifications to look for and means of competently assessing a vehicle’s compliance.

After the training, the NSW police officers and two educators from TAFE NSW joined Transport inspectors for a compliance operation in Bathurst where vehicles were directed to a secure location for inspections.

Some of the key results from the inspection are outlined below: 18 vehicles were inspected with only one vehicle found compliant with the applicable vehicle standards 17 vehicles were issued a defect notice/s. A defect notice places restrictions on the use of the vehicle until the vehicle has been repaired and assessed, to ensure the vehicle is compliant and safe to drive 5 vehicles were issued a red label (major grounded, these vehicles were not safe to be driven) 12 vehicles were issued with yellow labels (major defects, enabling limited use of the vehicle with conditions imposed until the vehicle is repaired and assessed as compliant).

You can read more about modified and nonstandard vehicles here or refer to the VSI 06 Light vehicle modifications overview for details on modifying suspension on a light vehicle.

R-Safety app now available The new R-Safety app is here to make mobile safety (pink slip) inspections possible for Authorised Inspection Scheme (AIS) examiners as well as an easier and more convenient experience for vehicle owners.

New procedure for emissions testing The exemption that was in place for vehicle emissions testing for certain modified vehicles, imported vehicles and individually constructed vehicles expired in September 2023.

VSCCS certifiers must now use the interim emissions test procedure, which was developed in consultation with automotive industry representatives and subject matter experts. This procedure outlines all the different types of emissions tests that are acceptable for registration purposes in NSW until Vehicle Standards Bulletin 14 (VSB14) is revised.

“The interim emissions test procedure provides a more accessible pathway to testing and compliance for our customers, particularly those in the regions, because our previous offering meant that vehicles had to be brought to Botany in Sydney for testing,” said John Willoughby, Director Regulatory Systems and Technology.

More information can be found on the NSW Government website.

Mobile inspections provide AIS proprietors and examiners an opportunity to offer more services to their customers and the app harnesses technology to keep our data secure while making it easier for examiners to meet their obligations under the AIS Business Rules.

It is mandatory to use the R-Safety app for all mobile inspections.

With the app, examiners will no longer have to print and sign each report and can email it to the customer directly.

There are many benefits and capabilities of the app, including: Multi-factor log-in for increased security Mobile inspections for cars, motorcycles and trailers (only if trailer has a VIN/chassis number) Defect clearance Offline capability Modern user interface Validations and automation Data in near real-time More compliance data for Transport such as GPS coordinates and pictures Reduced paperwork Inspection reports digitally sent to customers.

All AIS examiners should review the updated Supplementary AIS Business Rules for Authorised Proprietors and Examiners for further information on mobile safety inspections.

You can find out about how to become a mobile safety check provider on our website.

HEAVY VEHICLES

All roads lead to NatRoad annual conference

HVIS booking upgrade In October 2023, Transport made improvements to the Heavy Vehicle Inspection Booking System as part of the Cybersecurity Compliance Project.

Representatives from the Partnerships and Performance team in Regulatory Operations attended the National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) national conference recently, providing an opportunity to discuss issues relating to freight and regulatory operations matters with NatRoad members and other heavy vehicle stakeholders.

The booking system now caters for additional payment options with lower transaction fees, as outlined below:

Scott Greenow, Executive Director Freight, Regional and Outer Metropolitan, presented at the conference, which took place on the Gold Coast from 27-29 September 2023. Scott spoke about Safe, Productive and Sustainable Freight in NSW in a presentation which covered some of the challenges and opportunities facing this important sector.

The update also provides a tax invoice showing the GST amount separately, which will be automatically be sent to the customer’s registered email address.

NatRoad is a national membership-based industry body representing road transport operators which seeks to improve the operating environment for all operators.

NatRoad is a key stakeholder who meets with Transport regularly to discuss NSW freight and road-related matters of interest to its members.

For more information, visit natroad.com.au/events-networking/nationalconference.

Visa and Mastercard: 0.44% American Express and Diners Club: 1.54% Unionpay International: 1.76% Paypal: 0.44% PayID: $0.55 flat fee.

Primary producer registration 50% income requirement delayed In 2021, the NSW Government introduced new concession eligibility criteria for primary producers. These included a requirement that heavy vehicles must be used solely for primary production purposes, and that 50 per cent of income must be earned from primary production.

The former Minister advised that the requirement to earn 50 per cent of income would be delayed until 1 November 2023 while Transport further reviewed the eligibility requirements.

To allow enough time for Transport to finalise this review and further consult with stakeholders, the current Minister has decided to provide a further delay for the requirement to earn 50 per cent of income from primary production until 1 November 2024.

For more information about the primary producer registration concessions, please visit the NSW Government website.

INVESTIGATIONS

Piecing together the puzzle of vehicle related crime

and the behaviour directly associated with converting a stolen vehicle to profit, such as rebirthing, insurance fraud or exporting for parts.

The expertise of Transport’s Vehicle Identity and Inspections Unit was called on to support NSW Police recently when a vehicle was dumped and set alight in a park at Liverpool.

More recently, the definition of vehicle related crime has evolved to include not just the stealing of a vehicle, but its use in other forms of crime where a vehicle is used as a tool in the commission of crime. Deterring the initial vehicle theft in the first instance is seen as an influencing factor in reducing the ability of criminals to engage in other forms of crime.

Officers from Liverpool Police Area Command engaged the Vehicle Identity & Inspections Unit to examine the vehicle and attempt to identify it. Given the destructive effects of fire and heat, identifying these vehicles is particularly challenging. Fortunately, the expertise of the team often enables identification of these vehicles to be made.

The identifiers of this vehicle were able to be restored. It was found to have been stolen in July 2023 and part of a damaged registration plate from a second vehicle was also located.

Transport enquiries revealed that police had been searching for the vehicle after it was used in a shooting incident. The vehicle was displaying stolen registration plates at the time of the shooting that matched the partial registration plate recovered during the examination by Transport.

Vehicle related crime is usually considered to relate to the criminal act of stealing a vehicle

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Joint operation targeting organised vehicle theft and rebirthing

A large amount of passenger cars, commercial vehicles, trucks, trailers, plant and machinery were located on each property. Examination by Transport officers identified a significant number of stolen items.

NSW Police engaged our Vehicle Identity and Inspections Unit team to support the resolution phase of an investigation into organised motor vehicle theft and rebirthing.

The Londonderry property contained four stolen trucks, four stolen light commercial and passenger vehicles, two stolen trailers and an unregistered vehicle bearing plates from another vehicle.

During August 2023, NSW Police became aware of a criminal syndicate operating in Western Sydney. On Tuesday October 10 2023, NSW Police Raptor Squad with support from Transport’s Vehicle Identity and Inspections Unit executed search warrants at two properties in Shanes Park and Londonderry.

The Shanes Park property included four cars, 12 motorcycles, nine mountain bikes, two box trailers, a commercial generator, a tractor and a boat - all of which are believed to be stolen.

Two people were arrested and charged by NSW Police for their role in the vehicle theft and rebirthing activity.

Large file transfer! Team successfully transitions camera systems in office move The Business Systems and Asset Management teams in Transport’s Regulatory Operations Branch pulled off a remarkable feat recently. They successfully transitioned all automated enforcement camera network back-end infrastructure from Transport’s Argyle Street office in Parramatta to the Transport Management Centre in Eveleigh.

The team engaged with the Regional Delivery and Safety IT team and assembled a group of key internal and external stakeholders, including key vendors DXC and WIPRO, to look at rebuilding and migrating the complex camera enforcement network and hardware. After six months of rigorous planning and collaboration, the team completed the project.

A review by the team revealed that the network assets and infrastructure in Argyle Street required a complete redesign, and a simple ‘lift and shift’ approach was not feasible as some of the network infrastructure had been in service for over 14 years and contained end-of-life components.

“It was inspiring to see so many external vendors collaborating, even while some of them simultaneously supported other business relocations, underscoring the strong partnership between Transport and our external stakeholders” said Anthony Ishak, IT Systems Manager.

Managing the complexity of the ageing assets, as well as vacating the existing premises due to the expiration of the building lease, were some of the drivers for this time sensitive and critical initiative.

The end solution delivered a more cyber secure and optimised solution whilst ensuring uninterrupted business operations.

Data reveals top language for driver education Since the launch of the Road User Handbook in nine community languages in December 2022, new data has revealed the most popular languages used by NSW drivers.

Transport’s new Road User Handbook Google Analytics dashboard has collected the data and has measured the interactions that people have with the handbooks.

“The dashboard has allowed us to see where customers have come from when they visit these products and what type of device they are on. For example, we know that 65% of customers are viewing the handbooks on their mobile phone,” said Katie Davis-Hall-Watson, Manager of Licensing and Registration Products in Safety Environment and Regulation.

“We were not surprised at the high mobile use of these products, as they are for younger drivers who need to read the handbook to pass the Driver Knowledge Test to get their learner licence. The handbook is accessible on mobile devices to meet their needs,” Katie continued.

The Road User Handbook web page has received 122,000 unique page views over the last 12 months and each language has received the following downloads, revealing the most popular languages: 1. English – 105,456 2. Simplified Chinese – 5613 3. Arabic – 2711 4. Vietnamese – 1905 5. Spanish – 1656 6. Traditional Chinese – 1298 7. Farsi – 1275 8. Thai – 915 9. Korean – 643 The handbooks are an essential safety resource for new drivers and for those with years of experience who are brushing up on their understanding.

Click here to watch a short video about the Road User Handbook translations.

Supporting overseas drivers to convert their licence

The facility had enough staff to support about 450 driving tests and more than 1000 computerbased examinations each week.

On 1 July this year, two changes were introduced to the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2017 that affect overseas drivers.

This regulatory change was introduced to ensure all drivers on NSW roads are educated to a consistent standard which ultimately improves road safety for everyone.

Service NSW also recently announced the launch of their Mobile Driver Testing Centres, which offer similar services to the physical sites, including renewing or applying for a driver’s licence. More details on the services provided, and the locations of the Mobile Driver Testing Centres can be found here.

Road safety is a shared responsibility and it doesn’t matter whether you're a local or a visitor, understanding the road rules in NSW is crucial for your safety and that of others around you.

To help educate visa-holders who are residing in NSW about the policy change, a large communications campaign was launched, with bespoke campaign images, targeted display banner web ads and social media ads to share key information and a call to action with the impacted audience.

As a result of the policy change, all temporary visaholders who arrive in NSW from 1 July 2023 onwards are required to convert their overseas licence to a NSW licence within six months, which will increase traffic to Service NSW Service Centres.

To support this anticipated influx of customers converting their driver’s licence, the St Mary’s Driver Testing Centre in Western Sydney was highlighted as the key service centre to support these changes.

Since the changes came into effect, more than 19,713 overseas licence holders have taken up NSW licences and more than 150 visiting driver privileges have been withdrawn permanently.

More information on the changes to the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2017 can be found here.

GENERAL NEWS

Rural Road Safety Month Rural Road Safety Month in September was run by the Australian Road Safety Foundation and supported by Transport to highlight some of the additional risks which can exist when driving on rural and remote roads.

The theme this year was ‘Be the change you want to see on the road’. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and everyone has a role to play in keeping each other safe on the road.

While country residents make up only a third of the NSW population, deaths on rural and regional roads make up nearly 70 per cent of the state's road toll. Speed, fatigue and drink and/or drug driving remain the three most significant behavioural factors in fatal and serious injury crashes on NSW roads.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, here are some tips you can follow year round to help keep safe when driving on country roads in NSW:

Prioritise rest by taking regular breaks Obey speed limits and follow advisory signs Be cautious near curves and bends, where more than half of all rural road fatalities occur Drive to the conditions as these can change rapidly Avoid drinking alcohol or taking drugs prior to driving.

Transport supported Rural Road Safety month with a social media campaign on the NSW Road Safety Facebook page. For more information, visit arsf.com.au/rural-road-safety-month.

You can also check out our Road Safety in Your Workplace resources and start a conversation with your team about road safety or read more about safe country driving via our fact sheet here.

Motorcycle Awareness Month 2023 Every October, Transport supports Motorcycle Awareness Month, an initiative of the Motorcycle Council of NSW.

We recently visited our CRASH facility in Huntingwood, and wanted to show you some behind-the-scenes of how we test our helmets.

Motorcyclists are some of our most vulnerable road users. On average, 57 motorcyclists are killed and 1,042 are seriously injured on NSW roads every year. In 2023, we’ve already lost 45 motorcyclists on our roads. We’re determined to continue our work to ensure their safety, and the safety of all road users.

Remember, even if you aren’t a rider, it’s still important to keep an eye out for motorcyclists by checking your blind spots and giving them space.

Transport has several programs to support motorcycle riders and their passengers. Our Motorcycle Clothing Assessment Program (MotoCAP) tests motorcycle clothing such as boots, jackets, gloves, and pants. The clothing is then given a star rating for breathability and safety, so riders can choose gear that’s both safe and comfortable.

Our Consumer Rating Assessment of Safety Helmets (CRASH) program is similar, but tests motorcycle helmets so riders are comfortable during long rides and less likely to be injured if involved in a crash.

How can you get involved?

Follow and share the road safety posts on the NSW Road Safety page.

Check out our MotoCAP and CRASH programs, and encourage motorcycle riders in your lives to choose the safest gear for their ride.

Read about how to stay safe on NSW roads as a motorcyclist and as a driver.

We don’t all have a Terry Godmother, but we all need a Plan B As we head into the festive season, Transport reminds motorists and riders about the importance of having a plan B to get home safely after drinking. Watch the campaign video here.

Stay safe on our roads - advice from Safe Work Month This October was Safe Work Month, where Transport encouraged workplaces to have conversations with their employees who drive for work.

Almost 30 per cent of workplace fatalities in NSW are a result of road crashes at work. This includes cars and other light vehicles such as utes and vans. Most recently, we’ve seen an almost 28 per cent increase in light truck crashes across our network.

Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, organisations have a responsibility to ensure their employees are safe while working, including when they are in a vehicle.

Transport has developed the Road Safety In Your Workplace program to help employers implement best-practice road safety policies into their organisations.

Some of the great resources in the program include: Road safety factsheets on different topics including speed, fatigue and drink and/or drug driving A guide for employers on how to implement road safety policies Case studies from different sized organisations across multiple industries Toolbox talks that employers can use to educate their employees on a range of road safety topics An online education tool that walks employees through road safety, and their role in staying safe on NSW roads.

To get started, visit https://towardszero.nsw.gov.au/workplace or email towardszero@transport.nsw.gov.au for more information.

Update to TLI41222 Cert IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training The TLI41222 Certificate IV in Motor Vehicle Driver Training will now replace the TLI41321 Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport – Heavy Vehicle Driving Instruction).

Newcastle maintenance team helping to keep local roads safe The Newcastle District Works Maintenance and Delivery Team has been busy looking after various enforcement sites across the Hunter, helping keep both the Mobile Phone Detection Camera Program and the Mobile Speed Camera Programs operating safely and effectively.

The Hunter Region is a large area which has numerous mobile speed and mobile phone detection camera sites, and the maintenance team has been helping to keep the sites operating, for example through excavation works and replacing speed limit signs.

TLI41222 has three streams: Group A Car Group B Heavy Vehicle Group C Motorcycle.

This course meets the requirements of Transport to deliver training that leads to a heavy vehicle licence up-grade.

In NSW, any person, who teaches, tests, or assesses another person to drive or vary their driver licence and receives money or reward for teaching, testing, or assessing, is required by law to hold a Driving Instructor's licence.

More information is available via training.gov.au

Speed is the biggest killer on NSW roads, and by keeping these sites safe, the team is helping to stamp out dangerous driving on our roads.

“Works are always completed to an exceptional level, always with safety front of mind,” said Program Supervisor Brendon Follington.

“Having the ability to work with the maintenance teams lets me and my team focus on other dayto-day operations, such as assessing new sites and surveillance activities.”

“Our regional maintenance and delivery teams within Transport play an important role in providing maintenance services and new construction for roads, tunnels, bridges and ferries in regional NSW,” added Brendon.

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EVENTS

One-stop shop for transport safety

In addition to the Australian National Field Days, Transport also participated in the Henty Machinery Field Days near Wagga Wagga in September 2023 and AgQuip in Gunnedah in August 2023.

Transport provided a one-stop shop exhibit at this year’s Australian National Field Days, promoting safety messaging on roads, level crossings, maritime and heavy vehicles.

At Henty, Transport featured a concrete agitator truck with an interactive component that simulated a heavy vehicle’s blind spots.

The event, which ran from 26 – 28 October 2023, took place in Borenore, near Orange in NSW. Transport’s exhibit was a valuable opportunity to connect directly with regional communities on important safety topics, particularly ahead of harvest season when there may be an increase in harvesters, oversize and/or overmass machinery and trains on the network.

A key exhibit was the Trucksafe display showing just how difficult it is for truck drivers to see other road users around their vehicles.

The display was designed to raise community awareness of blind spots and how to walk, drive and ride safely around heavy vehicles.

“We were very proud to be working with our regulatory partners this year in our new improved one-stop shop for Transport Safety at AgQuip!” said Ros Ryan, Senior Manager of Partnerships and Performance.

One of our partners, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), was onsite and conducted a variety of presentations on heavy vehicle compliance and agricultural notices affecting transporters and primary producers.

There were also NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol officers, NHVR safety and compliance officers and Service NSW staff onhand to assist visitors with any questions.

Dubbo Motorfest Transport participated in the inaugural Dubbo Motorfest in September 2023, alongside NSW Police.

These included MotoCAP, tested motorcycle helmets, the motorcycle Virtual Mirror and the Ride to Live website.

Transport’s attendance at the one-day car and bike event, which attracted over 7000 visitors, provided an opportunity to talk with new and experienced riders about safe riding practices, road rules and hazard perception tips.

Motorcyclists can have a higher risk of being killed or seriously injured on the road, given their lack of protection in a crash. The 2026 Road Safety Action Plan has a target to reducing deaths by 50 per cent and serious injuries by 30 per cent by 2030 and includes initiatives to improve the safety of all road users including motorcyclists.

The exhibition also provided an opportunity to showcase various motorcycle safety initiatives.

Bathurst 1000 roars into gear Over 200,000 supercar fans descended on Mount Panorama from 5-8 October 2023 for the 60th anniversary of the Repco Bathurst 1000, making it the third most attended year in the event’s history.

visitors about road safety, staying safe on country roads, avoiding animal strikes, sharing the road and driving to the conditions. Racegoers were also invited to take part in an online quiz to test their knowledge.

Transport participated in the event, partnering with NSW Police to present an interactive safety exhibit "Our focus for this event was to build better road for motoring fans. The exhibit included two crash safety culture, to show that you can love cars lab vehicles, demonstrating the impact of off-set and racing but also value the importance of collisions at 60km/h and 80km/h. With October keeping yourself and others safe on the roads” being Motorcycle Awareness month there was also said Matt Cafe, Partnerships Manager. a particular focus on motorcycle safety and sharing the road, with a display giving visitors the The race-going crowd proved to be very opportunity to virtually ‘try on’ a variety of forthcoming with their own stories and some motorcycle safety gear and learn more about quality discussions were had, covering a wide MotoCAP testing of jackets, pants, and gloves. variety of road safety topics. Some of the common themes were licencing conditions for Members of our Community Partnering team and young people and conditional drivers, towing and Partnerships team were also on hand to talk to caravan safety and the advancement of vehicle safety in recent years.

© 2023

Regulatory Operations

IndustryEngagement@transport.nsw.gov.au