Obligation to wear seat belts on buses: “Drivers have an obligation to provide information”

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The causes of the fatal Flixbus bus crash near Leipzig (Germany) have not yet been fully clarified. But this much is already clear: Those who wore seat belts had a higher chance of survival.

Unlike buses in regional scheduled traffic, seat belts have been mandatory on buses since 1999. Buses have at least one lap belt and, increasingly, a three-point belt that extends over the shoulder. It is designed to keep the passengers in a straight line so that the front seating group can catch the passenger in the event of an accident and prevent the passenger from being thrown into or out of the bus.

Today, we automatically wear our seat belts in the car. Many people don’t do this on planes or buses. What is the responsibility of the bus tour company?

There is no obligation to accompany personnel on the bus.

“Driving personnel have an obligation to provide information,” Patrick Nussbaumer (55), head of Windisch AG’s bus company Eurobus, explains to Blick. Either drivers inform their passengers that seat belts are required before each take-off, or a safety video is shown, as in airplanes. There are also signs stating that seat belts are mandatory on buses.

However, the driver does not personally check whether the passengers are wearing seat belts. “There is no need for accompanying personnel in buses, as in airplanes,” says Nussbaumer. If the bus is stationary, there is no need for a seat belt. If the bus is moving, the driver cannot control it. “The passenger is responsible for wearing the seat belt,” says Nussbaumer.

According to the Federal Highway Administration (Astra), the driver only needs to personally ensure that children under the age of 12 are properly restrained.

If an accident occurs, the issue of liability arises. Police and authorities check whether the bus company gives clear instructions about the obligation to wear seat belts. “That’s why we fit right into it,” says Nussbaumer. This is standard for Swiss bus companies.

There’s a risk remaining

Nowadays, passengers on the plane are required to always wear their seat belts. If the seat belt sign is on, it is mandatory and going to the toilet is prohibited.

There are no seat belt signs on buses and there are no electronic systems to signal drivers who are not wearing seat belts, as in private vehicles. Additionally, every passenger is free to use the toilet on the bus whenever they wish. If an accident occurs at that time, the bus company is not responsible.

Source :Blick