Recognising skill, safety and leadership on the road
In recognition of Bus Safety Week, Transit Systems has introduced a new Safe Driver Awards program to formally recognise drivers who demonstrate exceptional safety performance and professionalism across its NSW operations.
The awards, celebrated at Tempe depot with special guests including Duncan Lucas - Executive Director, Road Safety Regulation at Transport for NSW (TfNSW), as well as other representatives from TfNSW, Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI), Bus NSW, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), NSW Police and Fire and Rescue, acknowledge drivers who achieve significant safety milestones.
These milestones included extensive kilometres driven without an at-fault accident, alongside consistently high safety scores measured through driver history records and advanced telematics analytics, including GreenRoad performance data.
The awards reinforce Transit Systems’ commitment to maintaining industry-leading safety standards across the public transport network and recognise the critical role drivers play in protecting passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and fellow road users every day.
Transit Systems NSW Managing Director Rino Matarazzo said the awards are about celebrating the professionalism and showcasing the discipline required to operate safely in complex urban environments.
“Driving a bus isn’t just a job - it’s a commitment. Our drivers manage large vehicles, tight schedules, changing road conditions, and the safety of dozens of people at a time.
“Our drivers operate in some of the busiest and most dynamic road corridors in the country. Achieving these safety milestones requires skill, focus and an unwavering commitment to doing the right thing every single shift.
“True safety doesn’t show up in one big moment - it shows up in consistent, disciplined driving every single day,” he said.
Mr Matarazzo said the drivers recognised with an award this year consistently set the standard for what safe driving looks like.
“The Safe Driver Awards recognise our team members who set the benchmark for safety and professionalism on our network.
“We see their effort, we value their consistency, and we want to formally and proudly acknowledge the standard they set for our broader team and the transport industry,” he said.
The assessment criteria evaluated objective performance metrics, including kilometres travelled without incident and verified telematics insights that measure smooth acceleration, braking, cornering and overall defensive driving behaviours.
Mr Matarazzo said embedding measurable safety benchmarks supports a strong safety culture and provides assurance to government partners and the community.
“Safety is not incidental, it is engineered, measured and continuously improved. These awards reinforce the high standards we expect and the accountability we uphold across our operations.
“Congratulations to each of the recipients and thank you for your professionalism and passion behind the wheel – we are very proud of each of you,” he said.
