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Bendy buses - the fatal facts
Last updated at 11:56am on 11.06.07
Danger: bendy buses in London cause double the number of injuries to pedestrians than other types of buses, official figures show today
Bendy buses cause more than twice as many injuries as any other bus, according to official figures seen by the Standard.
More than 90 pedestrians and cyclists were injured by the new vehicles last year.
Two people, including a 12-year-old girl, Blessing Olayiwola, have been killed by bendy buses in the last six months alone, even though there are only a few hundred of them.
The figures will be seized on by critics who want Transport for London to scrap the 60ft long vehicles. However, the Standard has learned that TfL may introduce them on even more routes. The statistics, released by the Mayor to London Assembly member Geoff Pope, show the new buses caused 115 per cent more pedestrian injuries than other types of buses per million miles operated.
Bendy buses were involved in 1,751 accidents over the year - 75 per cent more than other buses, the figures reveal.
This is an average of nearly five a day, and more than five accidents a year for every bus in the fleet. The vehicles caused 170 per cent more collisions with cyclists - nearly three times as many as conventional buses.
Mr Pope, chairman of the Assembly's transport committee, said: "These figures are alarming and worryingly high.
"There appear to be defects in the design of the bendy bus, but there's no sign these can be overcome. TfL should urgently review whether all the routes currently operated by bendy buses are suitable for them."
Lynda Lynch, whose 79-year-old mother suffered "horrific" injuries after becoming trapped in the doors of a bendy bus, said: "How can TfL expect one person to drive two buses joined together and man three doors? They are a death trap."
Charlie Lloyd, of the London Cycling Campaign, said: "We are very concerned to see this. Buses cutting into cyclists are one of our members' biggest complaints."
Blessing, 12, died instantly when she was struck by a No 12 bendy bus in Peckham Rye, near the junction with East Dulwich Road in December. Her father Jonathan, 50, was driving another No 12 that evening and heard about the accident, which happened close to the family home in Nunhead, over his vehicle's radio.
Today's figures show that bendy buses cause 5.6 pedestrian injuries per million miles operated, compared with 2.6 for all other buses.
They are involved in 2.62 collisions with cyclists per million miles, compared with 0.97 for other buses. And they have 153 accidents per million miles, compared with only 87 per million on non-bendy routes.
Bendy buses were introduced from 2002 onwards, often to replace London's popular Routemasters.
Levels of fare-dodging on the new vehicles, which have unsupervised "open boarding," are about three times higher than on conventional buses.
TfL claimed bendies had more accidents because they " encountered more road users" than non-bendy buses.
TfL is also pressing ahead with new purchases of bendy buses. Around 30 vehicles are being bought for the 453 service, raising the possibility that the route's existing bendy buses will be redeployed on to other routes.
Reader views (32)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
These buses are an absolute disgrace not only are they used by the great unwashed for free they're potential death traps too as we have seen. They cause terrible congestion on our narrow streets and are very dangerous for other road users ,especially cyclists. Get rid of them and bring back the safer and more fuel efficient Routemaster!
- Miles, Kennington, London
I feel we should stop blaming the buses and take a look at the drivers. I drive London buses myself although not bendy buses. It is very easy to feel king of the road and that everybody else needs to move out of the way. There have been many times when I have been cut up by buses not using indicators and pulling out. I do feel cyclists and young motorbike riders need to understand that they can not always be seen when they come down the near side of the bus. But there is no excuse for overtaking a cyclist then cutting them up by pulling in to a bus stop. We are taught to read the road ahead.
These drivers need to start doing it and not giving good drivers a bad name. There are cameras everywhere and a near side mirror just by the front doors on these buses. Drivers need to use them. There is no excuse. Don't rely on electronic sensors, when you have 2 eyes.
- Dave S, Epsom, UK
There are many different characteristics for articulated buses but one essential point is that (unlike the stretch limousines which seem to escape any campaign on the legality and safety of their operation) these vehicles pass the required tests for swept areas when going round a corner.
They do hug a corner more tightly than a rigid bus and the modern 'pusher' design can force the middle of the bus out, and tuck the back end in closer to the inside kerb. They do thus have some problems using existing streets - watch them trying to get out onto Borough High Street from London Bridge Station, but in some countries 25 metre triple section 200 passenger vehicles operate like trams, on dedicated routes, built to suit them.
Recording and reviewing digital images from the 2 rear-facing cameras on the back section of most of London's Citaro fleet might actually deliver the true facts. This CCTV is not used by the driver when driving although the rear of the bus is not visible in the rear view mirrors on the outside or the inside of a tight turn - creating substantial 'blind spots' and requiring that the bus is driven appropriately to recognise this issue.
I have 'driven' a bendy-bus on a simulator and so have noted some of this detail from my experience, and also talking to those who have driven the old and the new versions.
I think that there is a place for these vehicles as a much cheaper and faster way to deliver the aspired to West and South London tram route.
- Dave Holladay, Glasgow/Guildford
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