Bus Safety News in This Spring Edition
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TOP FIVE ISSUES WITH THE APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION PAGE 9 WHEN I RECEIVE MY BSA ACCREDITATION SHOULD I CHANGE MY BUS NUMBER PLATES? SPRING 2014, ISSUE 29 PAGE 15 PROSECUTION OF BUS OPERATOR PAGE 17 WE VALUE YOUR FUTURE EDITIONS FEEDBACK OF BSN We endeavour to provide you with the We hope you enjoy this edition of BSN. most recent and topical industry news If you wish to receive a copy of the and explain how we are exercising our newsletter by email, please contact us via regulatory responsibilities. [email protected] If you have any feedback on this with your preferred email address. publication or have an article idea for If you do not have access to email or future editions, please send an email to internet but would like to receive BSN, [email protected] please contact us. or phone us on 1800 223 022. 2 >> BUS SAFETY NEWS IN THIS SPRING EDITION FROM THE DIRECTOR 4 THE (FINANCIAL) YEAR IN REVIEW 5 DID YOU SEE US AT THE BUS EXPO? 6 OUTSTANDING FEES 7 TOP FIVE ISSUES WITH THE APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION 8 A BUS VETERAN STILL DOING THE ROUNDS 10 SUMMARY OF COMPLIANCE ACTIVITIES 12 INCIDENT REPORTING 13 WHEN I RECEIVE MY BSA ACCREDITATION SHOULD I CHANGE MY BUS NUMBER PLATES? 14 NEW BUS ACCREDITATION AND REGISTRATION VIDEOS 16 TELL US WHAT YOU THINK OF OUR WEBSITE 16 REMINDER ABOUT NEW INFRINGEMENT POWERS 16 ANNUAL FEE INCREASE 16 PROSECUTION OF BUS OPERATOR 17 BUS SAFETY FORUMS CONTINUE IN 2014 18 CARRYING CAPACITY SIGNAGE 19 TEMPORARY CHANGING OF THE GUARD 19 RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE 19 CONTACTING US Please note that our former telephone number 9655 8922 is no longer operational. It has been replaced by 1800 223 022. BUS SAFETY NEWS >> 3 FROM THE DIRECTOR TSV has also been happy to be involved in The consequences of not complying with Welcome to the spring into summer the bus driver wellbeing project which is a the requirement to hold accreditation were edition of Bus Safety News (BSN). safety initiative jointly funded by BusVic, highlighted recently by the Melbourne TSV, Public Transport Victoria and the Magistrates Court. On 4 August, a NSW bus Quite a lot has happened in the four Transport Workers Union. The outcomes operator was found guilty of operating a months since the last edition of this from this project will provide valuable commercial bus service in Victoria without newsletter. information that will improve bus driver accreditation. The penalty imposed by safety and security. the court was a fine of $30,000 and an We have continued with our Bus Safety order that the operator publish an adverse Forum program which has been well In July TSV participated in the 2014 BusVic Expo at Moonee Valley. As well publicity order in The Age and Herald Sun received by all who attended. Most newspapers and the Australasian Bus & importantly, the forums have generated as contributing to panel discussions TSV hosted a stand where our Accreditation Coach magazine. A copy of the adverse good feedback from operators as to the publicity order is included in this newsletter. safety issues they are dealing with and how and Registration team was available to Transport Safety Victoria (TSV) can help answer operator queries about submitting Included in this edition of BSN is: them with improving the safety of their applications for accreditation. • an update on compliance and audit respective bus services. A more detailed Since the last BSN, registered bus operator issues and outcomes over the past year update about the Bus Safety Forum numbers have grown to more than 1,850. • guidance on the time frame by which program is given later in this newsletter. The number of operators accredited to operators of 13 plus seat buses must provide commercial bus services is now have their carrying capacity signage in over 200 and we are seeing a steady place increase in the number of deemed accredited bus operators submitting their • the top five issues with applications for application for accreditation. Remember: accreditation deemed accreditation ceases by law on • guidance regarding number plates and 31 December 2015. Deemed accredited when a bus operator must display their operators who delay applying for accreditation number accreditation under the Bus Safety Act • fees and penalty unit changes. 2009 (Vic) risk not being able to lawfully operate in 2016. I hope you enjoy this edition of the newsletter. STEPHEN TURNER Director, Bus Safety 4 >> BUS SAFETY NEWS THE (FINANCIAL) YEAR IN REVIEW IT HAS BEEN A BUSY YEAR ONCE AGAIN FOR TSV’S BUS SAFETY BRANCH ACCREDITATION AND REGISTRATION TEAM COMPLIANCE TEAM OUTPUTS: HIGHLIGHTS Successful prosecution of bus operator Operators accredited under the (Vic) (BSA) FYTD 126 Bus Safety Act 2009 providing services without accreditation. Operators accredited under the BSA total 210 Twelve field compliance activities resulting in 400 buses and their drivers being Accreditation applications in progress as at 30 June 2014 40 assessed for compliance against the BSA. Deemed accredited operators as at 30 June 2014 595 One compliance activity at Melbourne Airport which detected 10 operators Operators registered under the BSA FYTD 143 operating bus services without bus operator registration. All of these operators Operators registered under the BSA total 1,833 now hold bus operator registration. Registration applications in progress as at 30 June 2014 9 Five prohibition notices and one improvement notice issued as a result of Change in circumstance FYTD 183 in-field compliance activities. Thirty three complaints received and Change in circumstance under the BSA 379 resolved satisfactorily. Change in circumstance in progress as at 30 June 2014 11 Exemptions completed FYTD 2 Total exemptions under the BSA 2 AUDIT TEAM Exemptions in progress as at 30 June 2014 1 OUTPUTS • Two hundred safety audits of deemed HIGHLIGHTS accredited operators. • Development of two bus safety videos • Conducting bus forums in Melbourne, • Three hundred safety audits of (available on the TSV website). Bairnsdale, Ballarat and Bendigo which registered operators. • Implementation of an electronic means were well attended. HIGHLIGHTS for accredited bus operators to pay their • Recruitment of a new bus safety • Continued development of the adoption annual accreditation fees. assessment officer (Sandra Gartside). of a risk-based audit methodology. • Changes to the accreditation application • Distribution of a joint PTV/TSV letter • Production of guidance material about process so that applicants can to all accredited operators who hold a unruly passengers. automatically surrender any previous contract advising them of the need to • Recruitment of two new Bus Safety accreditations at the time of applying for become accredited and the implications Compliance Officers. accreditation under Part 4 of the BSA. of not doing so by 31 December 2015. • Increased in-field presence at • Attendance at the BusVic Maintenance • Declaring and gazetting eight non- compliance activities. Conference and managing an exhibition commercial courtesy services. stand. • Participation in bus safety forums. BUS SAFETY NEWS >> 5 DID YOU SEE US AT THE BUS EXPO? TSV staff at our eye catching stand In the past, TSV has presented at the Expo He also took the opportunity to urge The BusVic Maintenance Conference but this year we also exhibited. deemed accredited operators to apply for and Trade Exhibition at Moonee Our eye catching and inviting stand accreditation sooner rather than later. Valley Racecourse proved to be a brought to life the new ‘Get your A into G’ Meanwhile, Andrew Chlebica, Manager, accreditation campaign. Compliance and Information, discussed successful networking opportunity TSV staff provided guidance on the TSV’s vehicle safety inspection trial and for the bus industry. accreditation process, interacted with provided a recap of compliance inspections. industry stakeholders about a range If you missed the presentations, of safety issues and gave away handy you can download them from materials on topics such as safety duties, www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au maximum number of passengers, and drug and alcohol management. Stephen Turner, Director of Bus Safety, gave a presentation at the event, offering his perspective on the improvements and benefits of theBus Safety Act 2009 (Vic), as well as looking ahead to future challenges for bus safety across the state. 6 >> BUS SAFETY NEWS OUTSTANDING FEES • PTV contract holders issued warning relevant change in circumstance occurs TSV has recently implemented letters - 57 regarding your accreditation, within 7 days a procedure for following up on • Suspensions issued – 37 of becoming aware of the change (Section 41 of the Bus Safety Act 2009). operators who have failed to pay their • Surrender of accreditation – 44 This may come as a timely reminder to • Letters returned to sender – 27 annual accreditation fees on time. consider the following: TSV will continue with this process to This process was documented in the • Have you paid your accreditation fee ensure all annual accreditation fees are last edition of BSN. within the past 12 months? paid by the due date. • Have you got a reminder in place for TSV has conducted the procedure twice Every accredited bus operator is required when your accreditation fee is due? If since its introduction, with the following to pay an annual accreditation fee. It is up you are unsure when your fees are due, results as at 14 October 2014: to the operator to ensure that this is paid please contact TSV. • Amount outstanding - $152,275.80 annually. • Are your details current? • Total amount paid - $105,017.60 Please note that failure to notify TSV of If you have any concerns or queries about • Payments in process - $513.60 a change in circumstance, such as an address, is no excuse for not paying your annual accreditation fees or would like • Total fees outstanding - $46,744.60 accreditation fees by the due date.