NRMA Bus Safety Roadshow tours region

The NRMA Insurance annual bus safety program has loaned a helping hand to students across the region. The NRMA Insurance bus safety program has helped more than 2,000 children in fun classroom discussions, interactive presentations, and an educational bus ride to help children learn stay safe when getting on and off the bus. NRMA Insurance representative Christine Hillis co-launched the program 19 years ago to help make bus journeys safe for school kids and to teach road safety awareness from a young age in regional and rural areas. “The bus safety program educates students in regional areas about the potential dangers associated with travelling by bus or crossing roads on their way to school, through presentations and a bus ride to put the lessons they've learned into practice,” she said. "Bus travel can be a daunting experience for school children and their parents. Our goal is to educate and instill good habits from a young age. We aim to teach children essential safety protocols when traveling by bus and to give parents peace of mind that their children are well-prepared. NRMA Insurance and its program partners, NSW Police and local bus companies, visited schools in Forbes, Wagga Wagga, Narrandera, Parkes, Cowra and Young across 30 schools. "We are thankful for the dedication and support of our partners who have helped make this program a success for nearly 20 years, which has been critical in building a safe environment for both school kids and drivers on the road," Ms Hillis said. Through the bus safety program children learn to: - Always stand two steps back from the kerb when waiting for the bus; - Never push or shove each other or muck around at the bus stop; - Wait for the bus to stop completely before getting on or off; - Wait for the bus to move away from the kerb before you cross the road; - Tell the driver straight away if you miss your stop; - Discuss with a parent, carer or guardian who is a 'safe adult'; and - Ask a parent, carer or guardian to write your home phone number on the inside of your bag