Why Don't Trains and Buses Have Seat Belts?



Swiss regulation about buses is that seat belts must be installed and used if the bus is in non-scheduled operation (charter, excursion, etc.). For scheduled operation, seat belts are not required; this goes together with the allowance of standees. You will find buses in scheduled operation with seat belts, because they may also be used in non-scheduled operation.

Considering the chance that something happens which could be eased by seat belts in the rail system, seat belts are considered to be not needed. Also, modern trains have quite a bit of energy absorbent elements built in that even heftier crashes lead to lower decellerations.

About airplanes, there are situations in air travel where decellerations are pretty high, and also in vertical axis (up/down). Some of these situations can not been recognized in time (such as clear air turbulences).

Truck drivers sometimes refer to bus passengers as self-loading freight, but they're not, of course.

Nevertheless, the comparison and contrast is an interesting one: A truck driver is responsible for securely stowing freight, for safe carriage. I am amazed at the callous disregard for safety in regards to the most fragile and valuable cargo: people.

No way would a truck driver be allowed to stow such sensitive freight just by putting it on a soft cushion and hoping for the best. But because this freight is autonomous...

I guess your answer is 'convenience', and the stats for injury in low-speed bus crashes (suburban services, and the like) are pretty reassuring.

Touring coaches and long-distance services, in particular, should (and here they do) have seat belts, and if fitted they must be worn. Heck, they are synonymously called 'safety belts' for a reason.

If a high-speed coach runs off the road, there's a fair chance it will roll. If a vehicle rolls, the most serious injuries occur to people ejected from the vehicle through the windows.

And, personally, as the 'driver', I'm keen, when some dick pulls out in front of my vehicle and I hit them square-on, I'm keen that you, sitting behind me, aren't going to break my neck as you pass. I'll be belted in, and without your belt, you'll be a missile on your way to eternity

As an aside, if you are a passenger in a vehicle that has the misfortune to roll, please try not to brace yourself against the window. It will break, and the vehicle will still be moving.

If it rolls and you're on the uphill side, you'll remember being told you should wear your seatbelt. I hope, when the vehicle comes to rest, you'll be very, very uncomfortable. Dangling, relatively unscathed, from your seatbelt.
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