Bus Safety News >> 2 from the Director
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email protected] OR PHONE US ON 1800 223 022. BUS SAFETY NEWS >> 2 FROM THE DIRECTOR Highlighted in the last edition of the Lastly, as every reader of this newsletter Welcome to the Winter into Spring newsletter was the Vehicle Safety Inspection will be aware. Over the last four and a half edition of Bus Safety News for 2015. project. This joint Bus Safety Victoria years I and my bus safety team, PTV’s bus (BSV) / bus industry project sought to staff and the Bus Association of Victoria This is our first newsletter to be solely investigate whether efficiencies could be have continually encouraged those bus distributed via electronic means. It features made to the current VSI requirements operators holding deemed accreditation some great articles of interest for the bus that apply to accredited bus operators to come forward with their applications industry including: without diminishing safety outcomes. The for accreditation under Part 4 of the Bus project ran for over 15 months and the Safety Act. Right now I am confident • a wrap up of our 2014 / 2015 series of project report and recommendations were that the majority of these bus operators regional bus safety forums with a report on published for comment in May. In this edition will have completed all requirements for the Mildura forum conducted in late May of the newsletter we announce the decision accreditation and are now in possession • an update on our Vehicle Safety concerning future VSI requirements. of their new accreditation certificate. Inspection Project Another project BSV has worked on this However, those who have delayed are now • developments on the safety risk year is developing a bus stop safety risk seriously risking not being able to legally assessment project assessment guide specifically designed to continue providing a commercial bus assist those responsible for determining service once their deemed accreditation • an update on the 2015 BSV bus safety ceases by law at midnight on 31 December compliance activities across Victoria the location, design, construction, installation, modification or maintenance 2015. For operators holding PTV or • notification of the CPI adjustment for of bus stopping points or any bus stop DET bus contracts, a condition of your accreditation and application fees infrastructure. The guide is specifically contract is that you continue to hold bus and infringement penalty costs for structured to meet the requirements of the operator accreditation – so any deemed the 2015 / 2016 financial year Bus Safety Act, and references VicRoads accredited bus operators in this situation • feature bus operator Bridges Connecting bus stop design in urban areas guidance, on 31 December face a double impact – no Communities as well as the former Department of longer legally able to provide a bus service and a major breach of their contractual • a summary of the quarterly bus incident Infrastructure guide for regional school bus stop designs, published in 2007. conditions. To any bus operators in doubt statistics and the safety alerts issued as to the status of their accreditation I since the last newsletter and A special article in this newsletter concerns strongly encourage you to urgently contact • safety tips on bus operations in the Bus Industry Wellbeing Taskforce. This my Accreditation and Registration staff by hazardous areas during the snow season. important industry initiative has grown out phoning 1800 223 022. of a joint BusVic, TWU, PTV and Transport While our complete regional bus safety Safety Victoria (TSV) research project To all our readers and bus safety forum program is yet to be finalised for the that investigated bus driver assaults and stakeholders, I commend this edition of Bus 2015/2016 financial year, the next forum wellbeing issues. I applaud the bus industry Safety News to you. will be in Shepparton on 24 September for this proactive safety initiative and look at the Shepparton RSL on Wyndham St, forward to my bus team contributing to the start time of 7pm. Taskforce’s work as it progresses. STEPHEN TURNER Director, Bus Safety BUS SAFETY NEWS >> 3 ACCREDITATION FEES APPLICATION FEES FOR BUS OPERATOR ACCREDITATION The table provides the application fee for commercial and local bus services. Service Application fee This fee must accompany your application for bus operator accreditation. Commercial bus service $544.00 Local bus service $544.00 PAYMENT METHODS • Cheques made payable to the Mail your payment/details with your Department of Economic Development, application form to: Jobs, Transport and Resources Transport Safety Victoria • Credit card (MasterCard or Visa only) PO Box 2797 Melbourne VIC 3001 ANNUAL ACCREDITATION FEES Accredited bus operators will receive an invoice for annual accreditation fees from Service Annual fee Transport Safety Victoria. The invoice will provide details about your payment Commercial bus service $272.00 (which includes the first bus). options. Annual fees are not required to be Plus $74.80 for each additional bus. paid if applying for accreditation. The table provides details of the annual fee Local bus service $272.00 (which includes the first bus). for commercial and local bus services. Plus $74.80 for each additional bus. MORE INFORMATION Bus operator annual accreditation fees are The formula references the term ‘fee unit’, calculated using the formula provided in the value of which is established under the Schedule 3 of the Bus Safety Regulations Monetary Units Act 2004 (Vic). The value of 2010 (Vic). a fee unit for the 2015-2016 financial year is $13.60. All fees are exempt from GST. BUS SAFETY NEWS >> 4 ONE WAY TRANSPORT SAFETY ANNUAL VICTORIA MONITORS THE ROADWORTHINESS OF THE VICTORIAN BUS FLEET IS BY ANALYSING THE OUTCOMES BUS SAFETY OF ANNUAL BUS SAFETY INSPECTIONS INSPECTIONS. The following table provides the annual bus safety inspection outcomes for 2014 – 2015. The outcomes are expressed as the COMPONENT PASS / FAIL RESULTS FOR percentage of buses which passed or failed in each of the 14 inspection components. ANNUAL INSPECTIONS TSV collates and filters inspection data Percentage of pass Percentage of fail monthly to identify trends such as “those buses that fail one or more of the seven 100 80 60 40 20 0 critical safety components”, or “buses Wheels and Tyres % % that fail in identical components in two 96 4 consecutive years”. TSV follows up with Steering and Suspension 92% 8% the applicable bus operators to ensure the % % defects have been rectified. Brakes 96 4 The seven critical safety components Brake Performance 97% 3% are steering, suspension, brakes, brake % % performance, chassis, tyres and wheels. Parking Brake 99 1 The operator of a bus that fails an annual Seats ans Seat Belts 94% 6% bus safety inspection is required to rectify Lamps Signals Reflectors % % all defects in any critical safety component 92 8 before allowing that bus to be used to Exhaust and Emission Controls 97% 3% provide a bus service. Evidence that the operator has captured and recorded any Windscreen and Windows 98% 2% defects found during an annual bus safety Windscreen Wipers Washers % % inspection and rectified the defect prior to 97 3 the bus being used to provide a bus service Body and Chassis 92% 8% is checked by TSV’s bus safety compliance % % officers when they audit operators or Engine and Driveline 96 4 undertake targeted compliance inspections. Other Items 90% 10% For more information, please contact Modifications % % Andrew Chlebica, Manager Compliance and 99 1 Information, on telephone 03 9655 6873. BUS SAFETY NEWS >> 5 VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION TRIAL • as specified by the vehicle manufacturer than five years old, or 10,000 kilometres A report recommending a change and or reference to any other relevant source, for a bus that is five years old or more to the prescribed intervals for or or has travelled more than 500,000 kilometres. vehicle safety inspections (VSI) • in the event the vehicle manufacturer does Following a 30 day industry consultation was prepared for consideration by not specify inspection intervals or other relevant source is unavailable, three period the Director, Bus Safety has the Director, Bus Safety. months (plus or minus seven days) or approved the recommendation and the amendment will been made to section 2.4.2 It recommended that the Director, Bus Safety a specified travel distance, whichever occurs first. of the maintenance management system amend section 2.4.2 of the maintenance and published on BSV’s website shortly. management system so that the maximum • The specified travel distances shall be permissible inspection intervals be: 20,000 kilometres for a bus that is less BUS FORUMS – NEW PROGRAM FOR 2015/16 These topics were introduced as a result of a The forums provided opportunities for The 2014/2015 bus forum program compliance operation conducted in Mildura bus operators to have queries answered concluded with a well-received visit during March.