For many Twin Cities residents, riding the bus is a vital part of their daily routine. With more than 100 routes throughout the metro, buses are one of the most trusted modes of public transportation. Still, a lot of behind-the-scenes work is done to ensure its passengers’ safety and security.
Between 2008 and 2021, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recorded 7,298 bus-to-person collisions. Among these accidents, there were 537 fatalities and 7,329 injuries. While this type of incident isn’t as common as other motor vehicle accidents, the figures are concerning enough to issue an official Safety Advisory.
What causes bus collisions?
There are two major factors that lead to bus crashes: visibility and unpredictable traffic. Buses are huge vehicles with not a lot of maneuverability and many roads aren’t necessarily built with buses and larger vehicles in mind. There may not be room for both the bus and the smaller vehicles and pedestrians to share the same space to turn.
Additionally, buses have many structures that impact the ddriver’svision. Lack of visibility, plus low maneuverability is an equation that leads to serious accidents.
So, what’s new?
The newly revised National Public Transportation Safety Plan offers an in-depth view of the FTA’sleading guide for transit safety performance. The guides offer changes in perspective on many safety concerns. The FTA calls for committees on safety that include not only high level policy makers, but also frontline employees, who see the risks and problems every day.
Additionally, the are updates to the reporting methods for accidents and safety concerns to reflect current traffic and safety trends.
Vigilance matters, but help is there if you need it
Keeping buses safe is an ongoing effort. For many of us, it starts here: understanding the dangers we should be aware of and the safety measures already put in place. But sometimes accidents can still occur, and if you or someone you care about gets injured, you have the right to seek the justice you deserve.