On advancing bus transport safety leveraging on data

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Get to the point ????

A 34% reduction in fatalities in bus/coach crashes was observed in Europe over a decade, from 2010 to 2019. However, vulnerabilities persist, with pedestrians comprising 29% of affected road users.Data from Norway indicates a declining risk of injury to bus drivers in road accidents, aligning closely with car drivers' profiles. Most strikingly, 80-85% of bus passenger injuries arise from non-traffic incidents.A recent?report?by the?Norwegian Institute of Transport Economics (TOI), presented at?Busworld 2023 in Brussels, sheds light on the state of traffic safety in bus transport across Norway and Europe.

The study, encompassing a decade of data, offers essential findings that pinpoint the challenges and opportunities for enhancing safety in this vital sector.One of the most promising outcomes highlighted in the report is the substantial decrease in fatalities associated with bus and coach crashes in Europe between 2010 and 2019, indicating a remarkable?34% reduction.The study underscores the fact that bus accidents pose a considerable risk to vulnerable road users, with?pedestrians being the hardest hit at 29%.Moreover, Norwegian data reveals a?declining risk of injury to bus drivers involved in road accidents over time.

Interestingly, the study points out that bus drivers face a risk profile similar to that of car drivers but higher than that of bus passengers. This underlines the need for measures aimed at safeguarding those behind the wheel.A striking revelation from the report is that?the majority of injuries to bus passengers do not stem from traffic accidents?but rather from events that occur on board buses or?during boarding and disembarking. In fact, these non-traffic incidents constitute a significant 80-85% of all injuries.This finding underscores the importance of addressing safety not only on the road but also within the buses themselves.

?? Things we enjoyed reading

• Three stories showing the importance of? public transport - Greenpeace has been highlighting the fundamental need for affordable, accessible public transport around the world. This is an issue that affects everyone Keep reading on Greenpeace
• Bike, bus and tram are overtaking cars in Tallin - 10 years after it made public transport free, how is Tallinn’s transport network still changing for the better???Public transport does not come out of nowhere. In Estonia’s capital of Tallinn Keep reading on Euronews
• FTA offers $197M to replace aging public transit rail vehicles - The rail-car replacement program aims to “modernize America’s transit system” and maintain equipment in good repair, the FTA says. Grants may cover up to 50% of the cost for replacement vehicles Keep reading on Smart Cities Dive
• What if public transit was like Uber? A small city pilot... - When a small city abruptly parked all its buses to launch a publicly subsidized van service offering $1.50 trips anywhere in town, only one of its bus drivers... Keep reading on Associated Press
• Manchester’s buses are back under public control - After nearly 40 years of Thatcherite deregulation and privatisation, the buses in Manchester are back under public control. On Sunday, 50 Bee Network electric buses will take their first journey across Bolton Keep reading on The Guardian

?? Time for a quote

Stockholm’s model is more far-reaching. Petrol and diesel cars are prohibited, period. It is more ‘ultra’ than the ultra-low emission zone of London. “We have chosen an area where large numbers of cyclists and pedestrians are exposed to unhealthy air on a daily basis. It is also a part of the city that is home to forward-thinking companies that are keen to lead the transition to a more sustainable future

Lars Stromgren,Stockholm?vice-mayor for transport on?The Guardian

?? What about a chart?