Fatal Bus Accidents in Nevada
In 2015 Nevada had 326 fatalities occurring on its roads. The number of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who sustained serious injuries was 1,334. While the numbers are lower than the 2005 rates (427 fatalities and 1,689 injuries), they are higher than the lowest ones reached in 2009 (243 fatalities and 1,412 serious injuries).
Because of these numbers, the state has decided to dedicate funds to various safety programs. Almost 24 percent of all funding is dedicated to impaired driving programs. Pedestrian safety gets 12.69 percent of the funds, teen safety programs – 11.42 percent, speeding programs – 9.19 percent and distracted driving programs – 10.26 percent.
Bus transportation safety in the state is one of the fields that have seen serious improvements over the past few years. Statistics provide additional information about the way in which the number of fatalities has gone down through the years.
Nevada Fatal Bus Accidents: Statistics
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has comprehensive reports about the safety of buses and the number of deadly collisions that occur in every single state on an annual basis:
2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
---|---|---|---|
Buses involved | 23 | 18 | 6 |
Number of Crashes | 21 | 18 | 6 |
Fatalities | 7 | 3 | 0 |
Injuries | 7 | 15 | 2 |
It’s easy to see how the situation has improved over the past few years. Taking a look at reports for an earlier period will provide even more comprehensive and reliable information. In 2013, this state had six fatal crashes that led to the death of six people. In 2010, Nevada had two fatal crashes that represented 0.6 percent of all the deadly collisions, Bureau of Transportation Statistics reported. Unfortunately, in 2015, Nevada had 25 deadly collisions that represented seven percent of all the deaths that occurred on the road.
The Newest Accidents
FMCSA data for 2017 is incomplete, which is why the agency’s statistics don’t account for one of the latest lethal accidents that have occurred in the state.
At the end of April, a pedestrian in Las Vegas was killed in a crash involving a bus. The pedestrian was standing in the road with a shopping cart when he got struck by the bus at about 2:37 am. The injured man was taken to the hospital immediately, but he died there later during the night.
Another prominent Las Vegas crash occurred in 2016, bringing many questions about the exhaustion of bus drivers and how fatigue could potentially increase the risk of deaths on the road. The accident triggered an investigation, during which Keolis Transit America employees testified that drivers were routinely expected to do their job in conditions of exhaustion.
According to one of the individuals that testified, it was a routine practice for public bus drivers in Las Vegas to go for 11 or 12-hour routes. The time required for a layover at the end of the bus station is deducted from the total. Under federal law, drivers aren’t allowed to take shifts lasting longer than 10 hours. Thus, company operations come against regulations.
Keolis representatives responded by saying that the company has been completely cooperative during the investigation of the tourist’s tragic death. The company refrained from speculating about the factors that could have contributed to the lethal outcome. The company’s general manager said that all drivers followed federal guidelines and vehicles underwent routine inspections.