This paper is based on a accident study into 47 real-world coach accidents. From these accidents, a sub-sample of 11 cases of coach "tip overs" have been studied. The study investigates the various causes of bodily injury in coach passengers involved in accidents in relation to their position in the coach. Three types of tip over are studied. They are: (1) static tip overs; (2) dynamic tip overs with side sliding occurring before the coach comes to a full stop; and (3) tip overs involving a fixed obstacle. The study covers tipping over incidents for both single and double-decker buses. The difference in resulting injury severity between total and partial ejection of coach passengers is also studied. In conclusion, the various possible countermeasures to ensure better coach passenger safety are discussed. (A)
Samenvatting