(Photo credit: Danielle Scott/Creative Commons)
Many Ontario residents use public transit to travel from one destination to another, but recently the safety of these services is coming into question.
The TTC is facing scrutiny and reviewing its streetcar and bus driver policies after a string of accidents, but some concern may be directed towards the GO transit system in light of the service’s first fatal on-board crash in mid-January.
A GO bus travelling to York University from Hamilton was involved in a fatal single-vehicle collision on Highway 407 near Weston Road. The bus hit a highway guardrail and rolled over onto the grass, an OPP officer told the Toronto Sun. A female passenger, who was identified as a custodian at York University, died at the scene after she was ejected from her seat and trapped under the bus. The bus was carrying six people onboard, including the bus driver, and two passengers were taken to the hospital for minor injuries.
Police continue to investigate the incident. It’s currently unknown why the bus crashed into the guardrail, but in a press conference, GO President Greg Percy said the bus driver had over 15 years of experience. Also, the bus involved in the crash was eight years old and it had passed a regular safety inspection, according to the York Guardian.
While Metrolinx is in the process of outfitting its vehicles with dashboard cameras, the vehicle involved in the crash did not have one. But a diagnostic computer on the bus can provide additional insight since it records vehicle data, such as the bus’ travel speed.
Regardless, the president of the Ontario Safety League told Metro News that the transit service’s driver training and mechanical standards are a benchmark in North America since the incident was the first fatal crash in the company’s 47 years of history.
Meanwhile, the TTC expedited the completion of its 12-point Safe Service Action Plan after a fatal bus-pedestrian accident involving a 14-year-old teen.
Some of the report’s recommendations include:
- Reinforcing the need for drivers to obey traffic laws
- Ensuring speed limit compliance by using GPS data, along with regular speed audits and radar checks
- Removing or covering a schedule deviation display that informs drivers when they’re off schedule
- Studying dashboard cameras, Collision Avoidance Systems, Operator Fatigue Detection Systems and Vehicle Turning Warning Systems to determine if they should be used in vehicles
- Reviewing operator training, such as changes to recertification training, and more training for drivers during off hours
Recommendations will be presented to the TTC board and they will require board approval before moving ahead.
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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