Belt Up

I suppose it was the fact that the crash occurred on Christmas Eve. And that the majority if not all the 48-49 passengers aboard were reported as wearing their seat belts and the vehicle remained largely structurally intact. For these reasons, the Norfolk crash, where a brand new 60-reg Mercedes of Coach Marqued Galloway’s ended up on its side, didn’t quite get the media exposure you might’ve expected. No one died.

Seat belts on coaches had no benefit from the sort of campaigns associated with the voluntary wearing of belts in cars, in the 1970s

Indeed, it’s generally acknowledged that seat belts played a considerable part in minimising injuries. Excuse the pun, but have we reached a tipping point in the public’s perception about wearing seat belts on coaches? I don’t think that we have quite yet but it’s certain that we are approaching that time when clunking & clicking every trip will become the norm.

For now, though, passengers still feel inherently safe aboard a coach, such that seat belt wearing isn’t always their first thought. Passengers do have good cause to feel that way: coaches and buses have an impressive record. Yet, there’ve been a spate of over-turning incidents recently and even more than the usual number of double deck topplings, including coaches.

Next year, seat belt regulations regarding children & young people date back exactly 20 years. Readers may recall that, back then, a PSV needed lap belts as a minimum if it:

• Carried three or more children (as defined by their age and journey was school-related).


• Was defined as a coach. For this purpose,, this depended upon its doing more than 60 mph.

At the time, there was much industry groaning by operators. No doubt cost had something to do with it but there were other concerned:

• Some felt that belt fitting was actually necessary. It as an over-reaction.


• Many thought belts might prevent swift evacuation. Not that anyone paid any heed to evacuation training.


• Some believed, in a crash, that ill-fitted restraints would cause the flooring to rip out, thereby increasing risks.

The initial industry response was therefore defensive. They fitted limiters that prevented their vehicles going over the defined 60 mph. This meant that belts were not required.

How things change. Next year, 2011, will see the fifth anniversary of the mandatory wearing of seat belts, where fitted. Drivers need to make an announcement to this affect unless as is usual the vehicle has a standard seat belt pictogram.

Those travelling with Galloway’s were reported as retired. It’s people such as these who seem more attuned to belt wearing on coaches. If each incident does nothing else but plant the need to wear seat belts into the public’s mind then at least something comes out of each one.

What of the segment of the population initially targeted in 1991, young people? Primary pupils up to 11 will generally wear belts, especially if reminded. Those over 11 feel immortal and rarely belt up, even if reminded. 20 years after belts first became compulsorily fitted and five after they were mandatory in use, the one thing that’s lacking is enforcement.

Meanwhile, with the Galloway’s incident involving just the brand new vehicle itself, on a straight piece of road that the police described as “fine”, it seems clear where the police investigation will concentrate.