Collision types and characteristics of bus accidents:​ their consequences for the bus passengers and the accident opponent

Langwieder, K.; Danner, M.; Hummel, Th.

Affiliations

¹HUK-Verband, Automobile Engineering Department, German Association of Third Party, Accident, Motor Vehiclc and Legal Protection Insurers

Abstract

The omnibus occupies an important position in the traffic scene in the Federal Republic of Germany; this paper furnishes statistical data on this fact. In the light of the national statistics, it is deduced that the risk of being killed or seriously injured as the occupant of a bus is Sow. This study covers 97 bus accidents with a collision in which occupants were injured: for the bus occupants, the risk of injury is given dependent on the accident opponent and kind of collision. For bus/car accidents, the risk to the car occupants, i.e., the passengers in the opposing vehicle, is also described. Moreover, this paper contains 142 accidents with injuries to the bus occupants without the bus being involved in a collision. These injuries resulted from the driving maneuvers of emergency braking, starting, and driving in a bend.

The majority of persons killed or seriously injured in this study met with their accident in long-distance coaches: rollover accidents are of particular significance. On the basis of this knowledge, measures are indicated that could achieve a further increase in the passive safety of buses.

As unfavorable road conditions played an essential part in the available accident material, an investigation was carried out to ascertain whether the accident would have been influenced by the use of an antilock brake system. These systems turned out to be of great advantage. About 4 percent of the bus accidents could certainly have been avoided, and probably even 15 percent.

Links

SAE: 856078

Cited Works (1)

Year	Entry
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Cited By (7)

Year	Entry
1996	Botto P, Got C. Vehicle rollover and occupant retention. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.1912-1919.
1996	Rasenack W, Appel H, Rau H, Rietz C. Belt systems in passenger coaches. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.1986-1995.
1998	Sukegawa Y, Matsukawa F, Kuboike T, Oki M. Heavy duty vehicle crash test method in Japan. In: Proceedings of the 16th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 31–June 4, 1998; Windsor, Ontario, Canada.892-898.
2013	Berg A, Rücker P, Niewöhner W, Steinmetz G. Status of the secondary safety of coaches: updated statistics, current standards and additional technical measures. In: Proceedings of the 23rd International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 27-30, 2013; Seoul, South Korea.
1987	Langwieder K, Danner M. Priorities in the active and passive safety of trucks. In: Proceedings of the 11th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). May 12-15, 1987; Washington, DC.674-688.
1991	Botto P, Caillieret MC, Patel A, Got C, Tarrière C. Passenger protection in single and double-decker coaches in tipping over. In: Proceedings of the 13th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). November 4-7, 1991; Paris, France.1284-1292.
1996	Appel H, Rau H, Rietz C, Rasenack W. Safety belts in touring coaches. In: Proceedings of the 1996 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 11-13, 1996; Dublin, Ireland.265-289.