Posts about Bus Safety

Metrobus crashes rarely fatal: Metrobus drivers are involved in about six collisions a day, however very few of them are fatal. Last week's fatal crash was the first since Spetember 2008. (Examiner) (Comment)

WMATA pushes bus safety: Metro plans to install plexiglass shields on 51 buses following a rash of incidents of violence against drivers. The shields will be a safety pilot, but some board members are concerned it will hinder customer interaction. (Fox 5) (Comment)

Metrobus steps up tracking: Metro has installed cameras in every bus and has begun keeping better records of driver behaviors. This and increasingly congested roads have led to an increase in reported incidents from crashes to fender benders. (Examiner) (Comment)

DC schoolbuses don't make the grade: Buses for DC's special education students are improperly maintained and poorly run and students often endure hours-long rides. The program could remain under court control if the city cannot transport students safely. (Post) (Comment)

And...: Portland TriMet is abandoning its audible bus turn warnings, a program WMATA implemented in the fall. (BikePortland) ... Mixed-use development dramatically reduces VMT of its residents, compared to their counterparts in sprawling suburbia. (New Urban Network) ... Density also leads to economically strong regions. (Grist) (Comment)

Chinatown bus crashes, killing 4: A bus traveling from Greensboro, North Carolina to New York City's Chinatown veered off the road and crashed, killing 4 and injuring more than 50. The company and the driver have numerous safety violations, leading USDOT to shut the company down. (Post, WAMU) (Comment)

Safer intercity buses more expensive: A rash of accidents on discount intercity buses has raised calls for better safety oversight. Union officials say higher driver pay would also increase safety. Either solution likely leads to pricier trips. (Transportation Nation) (Comment)

Are intercity buses safe enough?: Do "Chinatown buses" have enough safety regulation? Leaders are again asking the perennial question after a deadly bus crash in the Bronx last weekend. (NYT) (Comment)

Was Metro negligent in keeping driver?: Amanda Mahnke, who was hit by a bus driver in September, is suing Metro, claiming it was negligent in not firing the driver despite a history of crashes. (Fox5) (Comment)

Too many bus crashes or not?: The press is picking on Metro for letting bus drivers stay on the job even if they have a few "minor" collisions. But why.i.hate.dc points out that bus drivers do a lot of driving, and it's hard to tool around all day in a huge bus without occasionally hitting something. On the other hand, Carla Proctor's crashes before the one that injured Amanda Mahnke might be "indicators of poor judgment." ... Speaking of why.i.hate.dc, they apparently dont.hate.ggw. (Comment)

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