Characterization of transit-bus accidents resulting in passenger injuries for use in developing alternative methods for transporting wheelchair-seated travelers

Florida crash data were analyzed to identify transit bus crashes and characterize the crash environment. Using available data, "peak contact velocity" or PCV was calculated. PCV is a rough but probably liberal estimate of the change in vehicle speed during the collision, or delta V. Overall, injury rates were low. Over 80 percent of bus passengers were uninjured and most injuries were not serious. Frontal collisions were associated with higher rates of injury, as were collisions with large trucks. Estimated PCVs were also low, with PCV estimated to be less than 8 kph in 82.4 percent of the injury-producing crashes. Using vehicle miles traveled (VMT) provided by transit bus operators, it can be estimated that a bus passenger will see a 5 g or greater crash once in every 27 million miles, and a 10 g or greater crash once in 455 million miles. Accordingly, it appears that the crash environment to provide appropriate levels of protection to wheelchair riders is not challenging.

• Authors:
  • Blower, D
  • Woodrooffe, J
  • Scheider, L
• Conference:
  • International Truck and Bus Safety and Security Symposium, 2005, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
• Publication Date: 2005

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 594-603
• Monograph Title: Final proceedings: International Truck and Bus Safety and Security Symposium, November 14-16, 2005, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buses; Crash rates; Highway safety; Injuries; Passengers; Public transit; Transportation disadvantaged persons; Vehicle miles of travel; Wheelchairs
• Uncontrolled Terms: Road safety (engineering and vehicles)
• ATRI Terms: Bus; Crash rate; Injury; Passenger; Public transport; Road safety; Transport disadvantaged; Vehicle kilometre; Wheelchair
• Subject Areas: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01388681
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 23 2012 1:11AM