Much of NZ bus fleet a 'disgrace' says critic, calling for safety improvements

Friday, 3 August 2018

The recent spate of serious bus crashes, including this fatal one on Mt Ruapehu, has led to calls for stricter safety rules to prevent rollovers.

The Bus and Coach Association has rubbished the idea of compulsory seat belts in all buses travelling over 50 kilometres an hour, but it will look into the causes of recent serious bus crashes.

In less than a week one person has died and 39 have been injured in separate crashes on Mt Ruapehu and in the Manawatū.

Editor of the car review website dogandlemon.com Clive Matthew-Wilson described much of the New Zealand bus fleet as a 'disgrace.'

He believes all passenger buses travelling at more than 50 kmh should have seat belts, and has called for a ban on importing of buses that do not have proper shoulder harnesses or electronic stability control.

* Bus crashes in Manawatū, 19 people injured

* Bus in fatal skifield crash had a history of failed inspections**

There is debate over the cost and practicalities of making seat belts compulsory in more buses.

Matthew-Wilson conceded that retro-fitting seat belts could be expensive for older buses where the floor would need strengthening to provide adequate anchor points, but it could be done.

Bus and Coach Association chief executive Barry Kidd said many urban buses operated on dual carriageways and motorways where the speed limit was more than 50 kmh, and it wasn't practical having seat belts when people were constantly getting on and off.

Previous safety reviews had concluded the cost of compulsory seat belts would outweigh the benefit, he said

The association discussed bus crashes at a scheduled meeting with the Transport Minister Phil Twyford this week and Kidd said they had agreed to work with the ministry to look at the common factors and causes in a recent 'spike' in crashes, and what changes might be helpful.

In early, July Stuff revealed there were 161 serious bus crashes resulting in casualties last year, 40 more than in 2016.

After a big jump in the number of serious bus crashes last year, the Bus and Coach Association and the Ministry of Transport are taking a closer look at the causes.

'The initial reaction was that was a bit of a blip, but now the upward a trend has continued a bit longer and we've had a couple more, I think it merits a bit of a second look,' said Kidd.

Matthew-Wilson said he blamed the previous government for encouraging a low cost culture in commercial transport.

'They had multiple opportunities to do something about it as the tourism industry grew and did nothing whatsoever.

'The bar is set so low it's just an encouragement for people to buy the cheapest and unsafest vehicles and fail to maintain them properly.'

Electronic stability control helped prevent a vehicle losing control in emergencies, and while already compulsory on cars, it was optional on imported buses, said Matthew-Wilson

'I'm just appalled. We're talking about 50 per cent of roll overs being stopped by this one piece of technology.

'New Zealand's roads are particularly dangerous for buses, because they're often narrow and winding; a perfect setup for a rollover accident.'

Matthew-Wilson said it was a miracle there were not more deaths from these kinds of crashes which also resulted in horrific injuries.

'Permanent limb damage or loss of limbs, but also a huge number of neck injuries that stay with a victim for life.'

Older buses that were fine shuttling passengers around city streets were not necessarily the best choice for higher speed highways or mountain roads.

'If the bus rolls onto the roof it may collapse and crush people snug in their seat belts.'

But Kidd said it was not practical to have different rules for different areas.

'When you register a vehicle in New Zealand you can use it anywhere so it would be difficult to impose a particular set of safety regulations to vehicle operated in particular geographic areas.'

However, he agreed operators had a responsibility to choose vehicles appropriate for the road and weather conditions, and maintenance was also an issue.

In the case of the Ruapehu crash, photographs of the interior of the vehicle made it hard to believe it was being used to carry commercial passengers on New Zealand roads.

By and large New Zealand commercial vehicles were maintained to a high standard, and operators in main centres and on main highways were regularly stopped for safety checks, Kidd said.

'Whether that happens in some of the more remote locations, that's one of the questions we're asking.'