All accredited bus operators have a duty to report incidents to Safe Transport Victoria.
Incidents fall into one of three categories. More information on incident categories and incident types can be found below.
For all category 1 incidents, call 1800 301 151 as soon as possible, followed by a written report within 72 hours.
For category 2 incidents, please complete the category 2 incident form.
For category 3 incidents, please complete the category 3 incident form.
Which category does the incident fall under?
For all category 1 incidents, call 1800 301 151 as soon as possible, followed by a written report within 72 hours.
- A collision between the bus and a person
- An event, action, or failure related to the bus that causes someone’s death or serious injury
- A collision between the bus and a vehicle, infrastructure, or property resulting in significant damage
- An implosion, explosion, or fire involving the bus
- The bus being in motion without a driver in control
- An alleged assault involving the bus driver that could lead to someone’s death or serious injury
- The bus driver violating the bus operator’s alcohol and drug management policy
- A terrorist act occurring on or near the bus
- A situation where a child is left unattended on the bus after completing a route or service
- A mechanical failure of the bus that could cause someone’s death or serious injury
Verbal notification as soon as possible, followed by a written report within 72 hours.
- Call 1800 301 151.
- A Duty Officer will enter the incident in our system and email you a link to submit the written report.
- There is no longer a link on our website to submit a written report for a category 1 incident. You must call us to receive the link.
- When completing the form, select the incident type that best matches what happened. This helps us assess and respond to incidents appropriately. If you are unsure, see “How do I choose the incident type?” above.
- Organisation details
- Incident type — for guidance on choosing the type of incident, please review the how do I choose the incident type?
- Time and location of the incident
- Date and time that you became aware of the incident
- Details of any party involved (where known)
- Details of any person in attendance (if known)
- A description of the incident
- Any actions taken (or planned) to reassess the risk in the future
For category 2 incidents, please complete the category 2 incident form.
A Category 2 incident, in relation to a bus operated by an accredited bus operator, means any circumstance, act or omission involving the bus, other than an incident that is a category 1 incident, that results in any of the following:
- A person requiring immediate treatment as an in-patient in a hospital
- Attendance by a police officer or health professional
- A divergence of the bus from a highway
You must submit a written report to us within 72 hours of the incident.
Submit a written report via the online form.
When completing the form, select the incident type that best matches what happened. This helps us assess and respond to incidents appropriately. If you are unsure, see “How do I choose the incident type?” above.
- Organisation details
- Incident type — for guidance on choosing the type of incident, please review the how do I choose the incident type?
- Time and location of the incident
- Date and time that you became aware of the incident
- Details of any party involved (where known)
- Details of any person in attendance (if known)
- A description of the incident
- Any actions taken (or planned) to reassess the risk in the future
For category 3 incidents, please complete the category 3 incident form.
A Category 3 incident for a bus operated by an accredited refers to any of the following incidents, excluding Category 1 and Category 2 incidents:
- An alleged assault happening on the bus that doesn’t directly involve the bus driver.
- An alleged assault witnessed by the bus driver occurring in the immediate vicinity of the bus, such as at a bus stopping point.
- A situation involving suspected or attempted self-harm that could lead to someone’s death or serious injury.
You must submit a written report to us within one month of the incident.
Submit a written report via the online form.
You can submit multiple incidents by selecting ‘add incident’ once you have started the form.
When completing the form, select the incident type that best matches what happened. This helps us assess and respond to incidents appropriately. If you are unsure, see “How do I choose the incident type?” above.
- Organisation details
- Incident type — for guidance on choosing the type of incident, please review the how do I choose the incident type?
- Time and location of the incident
- Date and time that you became aware of the incident
- Details of any party involved (where known)
- Details of any person in attendance (if known)
- A description of the incident
- Any actions taken (or planned) to reassess the risk in the future
How do I choose the incident type?
When submitting a notifiable incident report, select the incident type that best matches what happened.
If you’re unsure, choose the closest match and provide as much detail as possible in your report.
When to select this
Select this incident type if your bus or vehicle has collided with something.
This includes
- Another vehicle (car, bus, truck or motorcycle)
- A pedestrian or cyclist
- Infrastructure (for example, a pole, barrier or building)
- Road debris or loose objects
- Overhead structures (for example, a bridge or sign)
When to select this
Select this incident type if a passenger is injured or put at risk as a result of the journey or vehicle operation.
This includes
- Slip, trip or fall
- Injury caused by braking, acceleration or turning
- Boarding or alighting incidents
- Passenger caught in doors
- Child left unattended on a bus
This does not include
- Incidents involving intentional harm or threats (select Intentional harm / security)
- Sudden illness or medical conditions (select Medical episode)
When to select this
Select this incident type if the incident involves inappropriate, unsafe or non-compliant behaviour that does not involve intentional harm or threats.
This includes
- Driver misconduct
- Passenger misconduct
- Anti-social behaviour
- Fare evasion
This does not include
- Incidents involving assault, threats or violence (select Intentional harm / security)
When to select this
Select this incident type if someone has intentionally caused harm or posed a security risk.
This includes
- Physical or sexual assault
- Threats or intimidation
- Aggressive or violent behaviour
- Theft or vandalism
- Any incident where someone intentionally causes harm or fear
When to select this
Select this incident type if a driver, passenger or another person experiences a sudden illness or medical event.
This includes
- Driver medical episode
- Passenger medical episode
- Illness affecting another person involved
When to select this
Select this incident type if the incident involves a vehicle fault or malfunction.
This includes
- Brake, steering or tyre failure
- Door malfunction
- Engine or electrical fault
- Wheel dislodgement
- Other mechanical issues affecting safe operation
When to select this
Select this incident type if the incident involves fire or another hazardous event.
This includes
- Fire
- Explosion or implosion
- Smoke or overheating
When to select this
Select this incident type if the incident involves unsafe driving without a collision.
This includes
- Vehicle leaving the roadway
- Loss of control
- Significant road rule breach
When to select this
Select this incident type if a driver is affected by drugs or alcohol, or is unfit for duty.
This includes
- Positive drug or alcohol test
- Driver assessed as unfit before or during service
- Still unsure?
- Choose the closest match and provide as much detail as possible in your report. This will help us assess and respond to the incident appropriately.