Bus Accident Fatalities in Nebraska
In the period from 2009 to 2014, Nebraska hasn’t seen a serious reduction in traffic fatalities resulting from the collision of passenger or commercial vehicles, regardless of measures aimed at increasing the safety of drivers and passengers.
As far as bus transportation goes, Nebraska is one of the best performers in the US. It has managed to maintain a stellar record in the period from 2015 to 2017, probably because of a strict regulatory framework aimed at enhancing the performance of carriers.
Bus Accident Fatality Statistics
The Nebraska Department of Transportation has detailed reports about crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the road but it doesn’t do segmentation by vehicle kind. Luckily, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has in-depth reports pertaining to bus collisions and fatalities:
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
---|---|---|---|
Buses involved | 89 | 93 | 16 |
Number of Crashes | 88 | 92 | 16 |
Fatalities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Injuries | 73 | 107 | 11 |
There was one fatal bus collision in 2013 and one in 2014. Both of them led to one death.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, a bus collision in Nebraska contributed to one fatality in 2010. This represents 0.3 percent of all the fatal accidents that occur on the territory of the state. In 2012, however, there were 12 deadly collisions. These represented 4.2 percent of all fatal crashes.
Regulatory Framework
Compared to other states, Nebraska has a much lower rate of deaths pertaining to commercial passenger vehicle collisions. A few other states that have had zero deadly accidents over the years include Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Wyoming.
In Nebraska, the regulatory framework could be one of the reasons why commercial and public transportation happen to be so safe.
Brake requirements are put in place for both trucks and buses. Also, limitations in terms of bus length are valid on the territory of the state.
The state’s Public Service Commission has the right to periodically examine the equipment that motor carriers work with. If any equipment is found to be unsafe, the commission is free to make recommendations and requirements aimed at increasing the safety of passengers.
On top of that, Nebraska has personnel statutes pertaining to individuals working for companies offering public or private transportation services. Requirements for strict pre-employment screening are in place. Motor carriers must take a look at the driver’s license of potential employees, as well as at their criminal history.
One way in which Nebraska misses the mark as far as regulations are concerned is state DOT regulations. The local department of transportation does not operate the maintenance or the operational requirements for vehicles offering passenger services. There are no state requirements for all vehicles to pass an annual inspection – a shortcoming that will eventually have to be addressed to strengthen the regulatory framework even further. Currently, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Requirements apply.