– It is clear and obvious that security must be improved. Otherwise, in the end, no one will dare to drive a bus, says Madeleine Isabelle Haukås. She is a bus driver and shop steward for the drivers who are organized in the Occupational Traffic Association in Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg. In December last year, one of their colleagues died after a head-on collision between two buses in the center of Fredrikstad. – It was very tough. We experienced that some had to ask other colleagues to drive exactly there, because they couldn’t do it themselves, says Haukås. The working environment among the bus drivers in Nedre Glomma is good, according to Madeleine Isabell Haukås. She is a shop steward for the drivers who are organized through the Swedish Trade Union Confederation. Photo: Benjamin Vorland Andersrød / news Since 2011, at least ten bus drivers have lost their lives in collisions on Norwegian roads. From 2011 to 2020, 240 buses were involved in head-on collisions, figures from the Norwegian Road Administration show. A new report from the Institute of Transport Economics makes specific recommendations for how safety in buses can be increased. Photo: Christoffer Andersen / NTB Death after accident at 30 km/h The risk of a bus driver ending up in an accident is roughly the same as that of a driver of a car. At the same time, the consequences are much greater for the bus drivers, according to Tor-Olav Nævestad. He is a research leader at the Institute of Transport Economics (TØI). Tor-Olav Nævestad is research leader for safety and resilience at the Institute of Transport Economics. Photo: Institute of Transport Economics – Bus drivers can, for example, die when they collide at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour, says Nævestad. He refers to a collision between two buses that occurred in Ullensaker in 2017. One of the drivers died there, despite the fact that the buses were traveling at a low speed. – That would not have happened with a lorry or car, says Nævestad. The buses involved in the accident in 2017 sustained massive damage, despite the fact that they were traveling at a low speed. Photo: Norwegian Accident Investigation Board Proposes international regulations On Tuesday, a new report on bus safety was presented at Europe’s largest bus fair in Belgium. In the report, research leader Nævestad and TØI come up with several concrete measures that can contribute to improving the safety of bus drivers and passengers. Among other things, they recommend that bus drivers should be better protected. To achieve that, a European standard for collision safety in buses is needed, the researchers conclude. The buses that were involved in the fatal accident in Fredrikstad during Space Christmas 2022. Here they are being investigated by the National Accident Investigation Board. Photo: Lars Håkon Pedersen / news The safety requirements set today are based on regulations that exist for trucks and other heavier vehicles. – We recommend that you start with the buses and what they need, says Tor-Olav Nævestad. Nygård: Underdeveloped area – It is completely in line with what we want, says Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård (Ap). On 1 October, a requirement was introduced that all new buses in Norway must have a reinforced structure in the middle of the front of the bus. It should prevent the front from being deformed if an accident occurs. The requirement is a step in the right direction, but not good enough, according to Nygård. – This is an underdeveloped area. There has been a development on the lorry side, but very little has happened on the bus side. We cannot sit idly by and watch that. The Ministry of Transport has recently asked the Norwegian Road Administration to draw up new, stricter requirements for collision safety, says Jon-Ivar Nygård. Photo: Kristina Kalinina / news Will increase knowledge The report presented on Tuesday is financed by the Norwegian Public Transport Association. They organize public transport companies locally, regionally and nationally. – The aim of the report is to increase knowledge in Norway and Europe about which security measures are available, says chairman Siv Wiken. Chairman of the Norwegian Public Transport Association Siv Wiken. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news The association hopes the report will make it easier for authorities and purchasers to request the best and most effective solutions. The review by the Institute of Transport Economics has resulted in four specific recommendations: The researchers recommend these measures: Fleet management systems to facilitate a soft driving style. This should minimize hard braking and sudden acceleration. Safety culture measures should be introduced to increase the focus on safety among managers and employees. Safety management systems to record adverse events and learn from them. Collision protection for bus drivers. Safeguard measures should be established as a common European standard. None of the recommended measures are currently required by law. Source: The report “Safety in bus transport in Europe. Status of safety and discussion of measures benefitting drivers, passengers and other road users’ from the Institute of Transport Economics. Many near misses The buses that were involved in the fatal accident in Fredrikstad last year no longer run in the Nedre Glomma region. This summer, a new company took over. New buses were then also put into use. They meet the safety requirement that was recently introduced. The fatal accident in Fredrikstad last year has affected the drivers in the area, says union representative Madeleine Isabelle Haukås. Photo: Benjamin Vorland Andersrød / news Madeleine Isabelle Haukås enjoys her job as a bus driver. – I don’t want to quit. Therefore, I hope those who work with security improve it as soon as possible. – Do you feel safe when you are behind the wheel at work today? – Not 100 percent. I do not do that. I have experienced many near misses.
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Recommends European standard to improve bus drivers’ safety – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
