Deadly wedding party bus crash in Hunter Valley: Safety report released after review
The New South Wales government has vowed to improve seatbelt compliance following its review of safety regulations sparked by a deadly Hunter Valley crash that sent shockwaves through the nation.
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The state government has vowed to improve seatbelt compliance following its review of safety regulations sparked by a deadly Hunter Valley crash that sent shockwaves through the nation.
Ten people were tragically killed in a horror crash on June 11 this year when a coach carrying 35 passengers from a nearby wedding overturned on a roundabout.
Brett Andrew Button was allegedly behind the wheel of the bus and now faces 63 charges, including 19 each of negligent driving occasioning death and dangerous driving occasioning death.
In the wake of the devastating loss, the NSW government ordered its Bus Industry Taskforce to expand its scope to examine the safety and regulatory arrangements of bus operations.
The government says it will implement all five recommendations contained in the report, which was released today, and includes ramping up the rollout of the NSW Rural and Regional Seatbelts Program announced in 2019.
The program promised to fit all compliant buses with lap or sash seatbelts within a decade.
The dad of the groom whose Hunter Valley wedding ended in tragedy welcomed the safety report and supported the campaign to raise awareness about seatbelt use on buses.
John Gaffney, whose son Mitchell married Madeleine Edsell, had previously called for seat belts to be mandatory on all buses.
“Wearing a seatbelt doubles the chance of surviving a crash and reduces the risk of injury,” he said.
“In NSW, each year, on average, 29 drivers and passengers are killed and around 79 seriously injured in crashes when not wearing available seatbelts. Many of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented if seatbelts had been worn.
“I also welcome the work Transport officials in NSW are doing with the bus and coach industry to ramp up activities already being done to roll out seat belts on school buses and support the community and the bus industry in complying with seat belt laws.”
Transport Minister Jo Haylen said there was still work to be done when it came to bus safety in NSW, but the report was an important step.
“My heart is with the families and community devastated by this tragedy,” she said.
“I’ve spoken to them personally and will continue to let their voices be heard as we work towards a safer future on our roads and public transport.
“I have asked Transport for NSW to ramp up vital work in raising awareness of the importance of seatbelt laws on buses, especially on school buses.
“We want everyone to remember that seatbelts save lives. If there is a seatbelt available on the bus you’re travelling on, you must use it.”
Mr Button, who was granted bail at Cessnock Local Court earlier this year, also faces 25 charges of causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle. No pleas have been entered.
The tragedy deeply struck the tight knit country town of Singleton, where seven of the ten killed in the crash were members of the Singleton Roosters AFL club.
Husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott, mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride, as well as Kyah’s boyfriend Kane Symons were all among the deceased from Singleton.
Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen also from Singleton were among the victims.
Zachary Bray from Byron Bay, Angus Craig from Queensland and Darcy Bulman from Melbourne were also killed.
The identities of the persons injured in the crash – 10 seriously – were suppressed by the court in June.
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