Seatbelts could become mandatory on NSW buses after horror Hunter Valley crash
Wearing seatbelts on buses could become mandatory in New South Wales with an urgent review set to follow a horror crash that killed 10 people in the Hunter Valley.
The state government will order its bus industry task force to examine all aspects of bus and coach safety, the Sydney Morning Herald has reported.
This will include issues like seatbelt wear, as well as driver fatigue.
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The NSW government will order an urgent review into bus and coach safety after the devastating Hunter Valley crash. AP / Mark Baker
Currently, only coach-type buses are legally required to have seatbelts in NSW.
Regular route service buses are not, and neither are metropolitan school buses - though their regional equivalents are.
These aspects will also be looked at by the review.
The news comes just after the parents of the groom whose wedding was devastated by the post-reception crash in the Hunter called for mandatory seat belts on buses.
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Not all buses in NSW are required to have seatbelts. Nine
A total of 10 people, many of them local to the area, were killed in the crash as they returned from the wedding of Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell at Wandin Valley Estate, near Greta.
Driver Brett Button has been charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death - drive manner dangerous and negligent driving occasioning death over the crash.
The 58-year-old was granted bail in Cessnock Local Court.
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The tragic crash happened after the wedding of Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell. Supplied
Gaffney's father John, who works in motorways and road safety according to his LinkedIn profile, wrote: "Hopefully something positive can come out of this tragedy."
"Fifty years ago the fitting and wearing of seat belts became compulsory in Australia for all occupants of motorcars saving countless lives since," he said.
"Whilst my wife and I can't do this on our own we believe ultimately everyone who rides a bus should have access to a seatbelt and be compelled by laws to wear them."
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