Coroner calls for rural bus seatbelt review after two men died in Cambridgeshire crash
A coroner has asked for a review on seatbelt rules for buses travelling[1] at the national speed limit on rural roads after two men died in a crash. The bus driver and a passenger both died after the bus crashed into a lorry on the A47 at Wisbech St Mary on June 26, 2018.
Area Coroner Simon Milburn submitted a Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD)[2] report to the Department for Transport following an inquest into the death of passenger Brian Chapman[3]. The inquest concluded on April 19 last year and found that Mr Chapman died as a result of multiple traumatic injuries following a road traffic collision.
The PFD report said Mr Chapman was sitting on the upper deck of the bus when the driver did not react to the presence of a lorry turning right from a haulage depot onto the westbound carriageway of the A47. The bus collided at speed with the lorry trailer with ‘extensive’ damage to both vehicles.
The PFD report said: “Extensive damage was caused to both vehicles and sadly Mr Chapman suffered significant and unsurvivable traumatic injuries. His death was confirmed at the scene by a paramedic at 0826hrs.”
The bus was a double-decker travelling between Peterborough[4] and Norwich. It was not fitted with passenger seatbelts. Mr Milburn wrote: “I heard evidence that although since 01.10.01 seatbelts are required to be fitted in all new buses (this vehicle was on a ’63’ plate) there is an exemption where such vehicles are designed for urban use with standing passengers.”
The bus was scheduled to stop in several urban centres but the coroner noted most of the journey took place on a major A-road through rural areas. The bus was travelling at approximately 53mph when it crashed.
Mr Milburn wrote: “Whilst there was no evidence that either death would have been prevented by the wearing of seatbelts a number of other passengers were injured in the collision. I am concerned where buses are undertaking journeys such as this through predominantly rural locations and subject to the national speed limit without seatbelts being required there is an obvious risk of death to passengers if collisions occur, particularly at high speed.”
The DfT was due to respond to the PFD report before Monday (March 25). A response has not yet been published on the Judiciary website.
References
- ^ travelling (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
- ^ Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) (www.judiciary.uk)
- ^ Brian Chapman (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
- ^ Peterborough (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)