Buses are an important part of transportation in Canada, ranging from inner city transit to school buses that transport children. Analyzing the causes and methods of prevention for accidents involving inner city and school buses, especially those that require injury attorneys, will help to create a safer world for individuals taking buses.
Most Common Fatalities & Injuries on Buses
Transport Canada has determined that seatbelts are not needed on school buses and inner city transit. Buses are one of the safest forms of transportation, yet accidents do occur on occasion. 0.3% of all road fatalities and 0.6% of all road injuries are caused by buses, although these can be quite damaging due to the size of buses.
When buses get into accidents that require injury attorneys, the bus itself has a very low expectancy of being affected by the accident. Transport Canada’s "Evaluation of Occupant Protection in Buses" report reflects that 54% of injuries involving a bus afflict people in the other vehicle. Pedestrians account for the second highest rate of injury involving a bus, at a 25% rate. 19% of injuries involved bus occupants, which is substantially lower than injuries that involve people outside of the bus. The report demonstrates that buses are quite safe for their occupants, yet pose a risk to outside vehicles, highlighting the importance of safe driving for all vehicles on the road.
Bus collisions have a large impact on society because of the volume of people this type of vehicle can carry in one trip. In 1997, the media erupted when 43 seniors were killed rolling down the side of a hill. This accident was one of the worst collisions in Canadian history and brought up the need for better safety measures in buses. Bus accidents that require injury attorneys and Toronto personal injury lawyers reveal the need for strong safety measures to ensure the safest travel possible.
Current Safety Measures for Buses
New safety measures have been adopted in the last 10 years to ensure safety on buses, especially when considering school buses that transport children. School buses now include rollover protection, as well as extra cushioning on the seats in case of collisions. Compartmentalization is another safety measure that ensures seats are closely spaced together to form compartments, which increases safety in the large internal space of the bus. There are also stronger anchors attaching bus seats to the floor, which create a safer ride.
When passing a school bus in another vehicle, it is important to stop when the red lights are flashing. Children can be unpredictable, and pedestrians and safety measures are in place to ensure they can safely enter and exit buses. If a driver passes a bus going the opposite direction while its red lights are flashing and there is not a median in place, 6 demerit points will be taken away and a fine of $400-$2000 can occur at first offence.
Inner city buses provide more seating to try and alleviate the need for overcrowding and standing on buses. Better standards for the manufacture of public buses also creates safer standards for the vehicle to avoid needing a Toronto personal injury lawyer. Many countries worldwide, especially in the United Kingdom, are testing new types of buses with and without seatbelts to find the safest mode of public transportation for its citizens.
Sources
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/school-bus-safety.shtml
https://www.tc.gc.ca/media/documents/roadsafety/tp14006e.pdf
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9710/13/canada.bus.crash/