Properly designed buses are crucial to preventing bus accident deaths, but Canada currently lacks crash safety standards on passenger buses.

In 2013, six people died during an OC Transport crash while aboard a bus with no bumpers or impact protection for passengers who are in the upper deck. The Transportation Safety Board says improved bus design could have saved lives in this accident, and that better bus design must become a priority.

Some buses are safer than others. Although all Canadian school buses must meet stringent crashworthiness standards to prevent rollovers, reduce bus damage and decrease the likeliness of passenger injuries during a crash, municipal passenger and coach buses are not required to meet the same standards.

Because school buses are more rugged and designed to reduce impact in a crash, they typically endure far less damage in accidents than passenger buses. For example, in recent 2013 and 2014 school bus accidents, only minor injuries were sustained and the buses were damaged minimally.

Although passenger buses are assumed to be more durable because of their large size, this is not always the case. TSB Chair Kathy Fox has recommended a system where buses are selected and reinforced by following The American Public Transit Association’s guidelines to improve crashworthiness. This will help manufacturers and others to more carefully consider crashworthiness standards when deciding which buses to purchase.

Transport Canada must respond to the TSB’s recommendations within 90 days to improve bus safety and prevent accidents.
You can learn more about bus safety guidelines and crashworthiness standards for Canadian buses by clicking here.

Passenger and other bus accidents can be incredibly serious. If you have been injured in a bus accident, it is important to know your rights and consult with a lawyer. For more information 1-855-446-7765. For more information, visit our accident lawyer section.