Collision Types and Characteristics of Bus Accidents-Their Consequences for the Bus Passengers and the Accident Opponent 856078

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.