Fatal B.C. bus crash raises questions about seatbelts, driver training | 24CA News
The tragic Christmas Eve bus crash that killed 4 individuals in B.C. has put passenger bus security into the highlight.
While the investigation into the crash stays in its infancy, one early discovering was that few individuals aboard the Ebus have been carrying seatbelts when the car rolled on the Okanagan Connector because it travelled from Kelowna to Vancouver amid wintry situations.
The crash left 4 individuals lifeless and despatched dozens to hospital.
“I definitely think seatbelts would have saved lives, seatbelts would have reduced some of the injuries,” Const. James Ward, a veteran collision investigator with the B.C. Highway Patrol, advised Global News.
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Under B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act, anybody travelling in a car is legally required to put on their seatbelt whereas that car is in movement. The onus is on a person to strap themselves in in the event that they’re an grownup, or the motive force if the passenger is youthful than 16.
But imposing that legislation on buses is tough, Ward stated. Police can’t see inside coaches whereas they’re transferring, and as soon as they’re stopped it’s not unlawful to be unstrapped.
Ward stated the security hole that creates is value reviewing.
“You can’t expect the bus operator to be a police officer and enforce the Motor Vehicle Act — they don’t; have the authority to do so,” he stated.
“However, should it be treated like an aircraft, where everybody gets on the plane, they won’t take off until everybody has their seatbelts on? Maybe buses gotta start doing that where they’re at the bus depot, the driver does a walk down the aisle or does an announcement and says we won’t leave until everyone has their seatbelt attached.”
The crash has additionally raised questions on highway situations on the time of the crash, together with the motive force’s stage of expertise.
At a press briefing Tuesday, Transportation Minister Rob Fleming stated on the time of the crash contractors have been preserving the freeway to the required customary, and that bus drivers within the province should meet minimal necessities.
“It’s called a Class Two licence. It covers requirements and examines potential drivers for skills operating a coach,” he stated.
But some within the business say the coaching required to get a Class Two licence is inadequate for B.C.’s distinctive, and infrequently excessive driving situations.
James Cooper is an operator with 30 years of expertise throughout all varieties of industrial driving, together with buses and tractor trailers.
He advised Global News the province must replace its coaching necessities.
“I believe drivers in B.C. in all commercial classes require more advanced training to handle winter conditions,” he stated.
“I think we’re lacking on that end of training, it’s not been amended since the ’70s, it definitely needs to change as we’re looking at potentials of climate change coming on which is going to affect winter conditions.”
After the Humbolt Broncos bus crash, the federal authorities applied extra rigorous necessary coaching for transport truck drivers with Class One licences, which Cooper stated doesn’t apply to bus drivers.
Changes in regulation are sometimes born out of tragedies similar to this bus crash, and as soon as the RCMP investigation is full, the ministry might find yourself making adjustments to guidelines to higher defend drivers and passengers.
Cooper stated he hopes these adjustments come, and that they’re the results of cautious research, not a knee-jerk response.
“I don’t think training them to deal with different situations and scenarios is that difficult,” he stated.
“I think what its going to take is a willingness on the government’s part to add in items like a winter endorsement or a mountain endorsement to bring these drivers up to speed, to understand conditions, and give them a little bit more power to say no when the conditions deteriorate.”
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
