Public transport users
Increasing public transport use has the potential to deliver road safety benefits.
However, there are some major safety risks from public transport use that may increase as patronage increases. While the number of fatalities and serious injuries resulting from crashes involving trains, trams and buses is low, the safety of passengers boarding and alighting trams represents a challenge which must not be understated. Falls inside trams are also common, often caused by a sudden braking of a tram when other road vehicles encroach on to tram tracks. Also, crashes involving trains typically result in fatalities.
What the strategy will do
Measures to improve road based public transport safety will include:
- Introduce a network of roads where trams and buses have traffic priority which will improve the safety of public transport users.
- Undertaking education programs, supported by enforcement, to protect people boarding and alighting from buses and trams.
