Abstract
The buses and coaches are the safest means of transportation. Nevertheless, several severe accidents occur creating a high public concern.
Some accident configurations, such as overturning or head on collisions with other heavy vehicles, result often in multiple fatalities and severe injuries.
During the last years, the international community has developed a spectacular activity related to the definition of new regulations for improving the passive safety in buses and coaches. In this direction, it is essential to highlight two ECE regulations: R66, for standardised specifications for approval of motor coaches with respect to the stability of their structure; and R80, for standardised specifications for approval of seats in motor coaches and of these vehicles with respect to the stability of the seats and their anchoring. The effectiveness of these regulations will be based on their influence in real accidents, and especially on the reduction of injuries.
This report shows an initial statistical analysis for the characterisation of the collision types and the severity in accidents with buses and coaches involved. Afterwards, a sample of very severe accidents has been studied; an in-depth analysis has been developed, based on: accident reconstruction, structural behaviour, seat and anchorage resistance and injury mechanisms.
Finally, conclusions are proposed about the protection provided by the current regulations in the accidents considered; and recommendations for improving these regulations according to the reduction of injuries in this type of accidents.