(Photo credit: Michael Gil/Creative Commons)
The TTC is reviewing its driver recruitment and training policies after a string of accidents involving bus and streetcar drivers.
The review has been in the works for weeks, but a recent fatal hit-and-run accident of a 14-year-old expedited the evaluation. On December 22, a Scarborough teen was crossing the street near her home at Finch Ave. E. and Neilson Rd. when she was hit by a TTC bus and the driver drove away. The teen was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver later turned himself in, but it’s unclear whether the seven year veteran realized he’d hit someone, according to the Toronto Star. Both the police and the TTC continue to investigate the incident and as of yet, no charges have been laid.
Since 2009, there’s been about 18,000 crashes involving TTC vehicles with about 5,000 of those cited as preventable by TTC investigators, according to the Star. There was a noticeable spike in streetcar collisions this fall, but there’s also been collisions involving TTC vehicles in recent weeks.
On December 29, there was a head on collision at Main St. and Danforth Ave. involving a TTC bus and a streetcar, which resulted in four people suffering minor to moderate injuries. Since then, the bus driver was charged with careless driving and has yet to appear in court.
On December 20, a woman suffered non life-threatening head injuries after she was hit by a TTC bus at the Yonge and Eglinton intersection. On December 5, a female was severely injured and suffered multi-system trauma after she was hit by a TTC bus and pinned under the vehicle for over half an hour at York University.
There’s also been reports of TTC drivers running red lights, including a dashboard camera video that was uploaded on YouTube that shows a driver almost hitting a pedestrian during one incident. The driver was later fired as a result of the video evidence and the TTC has taken disciplinary action against other drivers who have also been spotted running red lights.
One suggestion that’s been recommended is installing dashboard cameras on buses and streetcars.
But an interesting point to note is that Toronto Police don’t typically launch investigations based on dashboard camera footage since it’s insufficient evidence for a probable conviction and there are many details of an accident that aren’t addressed in the video, a Toronto Police spokesperson told the Star.
Motor vehicle accidents happen and accident benefits are available to anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident regardless of who caused the accident. The personal injury and accident lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers have been dealing with all accident related issues throughout Ontario for over 45 years. We know how to get you the compensation that you deserve and get your life back in order after being in a car accident. Call us at 416-920-4242, set up a free consultation, and come speak with us.
Greg Neinstein
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