22 Dead- Bus Crashes Off Expressway

[Jollygoodfellow]

Another tragedy with so many deaths. One would think the sides of the expressway would withstand being hit and what is it with Filipinos, the pics show pedestrians walking over the bus and trying to walk past it. In Australia the whole area would be cordoned off for safety and investigation. What if debris from above fell on the pedestrians?

 

 

 

 

 

At least 21 people were killed and about 20 others injured when a passenger bus plunged from an elevated highway and fell onto a van in suburban Manila, police said.

 

Superintendent Elizabeth Velasquez said the bus veered off the highway and crashed onto a van passing below in suburban Paranaque city at dawn on Monday. Both drivers were killed.

 

TV footage showed a number of bodies strewn around the bus wreckage with police officers milling around.

 

The van was an unrecognizable pile of smashed white metal.

 

Ivy Vidal, a spokeswoman for the corporation running the Skyway, as the elevated road is called, said it was not clear what caused the accident, but conditions were wet.

 

One witness told Philippine radio she saw the bus speeding past moments before the crash.

 

"I was driving at 80 kmh (50 mph) because it was still dark and raining when this bus overtook us," the woman, who gave her name as Irene, told dzMM radio.

 

"It was probably running at more than 100 kmh. Minutes later, I saw the bus fell off the highway. The railings on the highway were also gone."

 

Transport authorities immediately halted all other services run by bus company Don Mariano Transport, saying it had figured in an unspecified number of road accidents since 2011.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/global/2013/dec/16/philippines-bus-crash-elevated-highway

[brock]

This is one reason I will not travel on buses in the Philippines too many crazy speeding drivers, instead of paying 100p to go to Balamban I paid 2500 for a Taxi and the driver drove at the speed I told him too

[FlyAway]

A lot of deaths could be prevented with better safety regulations. Vehicles built or imported into the US have to have certain safety features. Many of the vehicles on the roads in Philippines would simply not be allowed to operate in the US.

 

I have not checked into what type of licensing and training is needed for bus drivers in Philippines. Most likely it is not very much.

 

Here in California it drives me nuts when going 60MPH in a 55MPH zone and then get passed like I was standing still. Everyone is in a hurry to get to that next red light. Now I feel much safer having a vehicle with airbags and other safety features like anti lock brakes.

 

Problem with trying to institute safety regulations is it becomes another government bureaucracy.

[Old55]

This is one reason I will not travel on buses in the Philippines too many crazy speeding drivers, instead of paying 100p to go to Balamban I paid 2500 for a Taxi and the driver drove at the speed I told him too

Exactly, we will not ride a bus in Philippines. When I go to Moalboal it is is always a newer taxi my wife will "find". When we need transport in Leyte we will buy a Jeepnee for the day to go to and from the port.

 

There is a department of licensing for bus drivers but how often do we read the driver was new unlicensed and on Meth and the bus had mechanical issues?

Pay a fine some blood money and all is good. More Fun in da Philippines.

Edited December 16, 2013 by Old55

[earthdome]

It would be interesting to know what the crash data and statistics are for buses in the Philippines.

 

Statistics show that airline travel is safer than traveling by car. Yet one spectacular airplane crash is more visible than all the everyday car accidents and makes people think that airline travel is unsafe.

 

The same may apply in this situation. I have traveled a great deal by bus in the last year, mostly using Victory Liner or Partas AC buses and have never felt that my life was at greater risk riding on the bus.

[Mike S]

The best way to stop some of these needless bus accidents is really kinda simple .... pay the driver by the hour and NOT by the passenger .... it would definitely cut down on the speeding and reckless driving rushing to get more passengers so they can make more money ..... as I see it it is mostly the bus companies fault for paying this way and if they could sue the bus companies for millions like they can in other companies it would also help ....

 

Along the same lines I loved the news report on TV last night where the person interviewed said the bus was traveling at more than 80k because of the length of skid marks on the rain soaked road ...... skid marks on a rain soaked road ..... I would love to see that .... :mocking: :71161:

:cheersty:

[Call me bubba]

here is an article thats relevant to the story

 

 

Based on eyewitness accounts and videos from the Close Circuit Television Cameras, the driver of Don Mariano Transit named Carmelo Calatcat violated the 60 kph limit—a limit enforced when it is raining. Further, the said bus’ tires were also already worn out.

 

The best way to stop some of these needless bus accidents is really kinda simple .... pay the driver by the hour and NOT by the passenger .... it would definitely cut down on the speeding and reckless driving rushing to get more passengers so they can make more money ....

 

seems that they want to pass another "feel good"law after another tragedy

 

i had thought a law was already made/passed that paid the drivers a "FIXED" salary ?

due to previous incidents in 2011?

The seven-strong Makabayan bloc of lawmakers, for their part, filed a measure requiring fixed salaries for bus drivers or the Bus Drivers and Conductors Compensation Act of 2013.

Under the said measure, all persons who have been issued a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a public utility bus service shall pay their public utility bus drivers and conductors as compensation for work performed a fixed monthly salary which is not be less than the minimum wage fixed by law, plus benefits and incentives.

Further, all operators of public utility bus service should require their drivers to observe the following work scheme: driving hours not exceeding eight hours inclusive of the rest period; a two-shift system and a least one hour rest per working day.

 

 

http://manilatimes.net/lifetime-ban-on-erring-drivers-eyed/61314/

[MikeB]

Not only are the drivers and conductors on commission, if they don't make quota the cost of the gasoline is deducted from their pay:

"The lawmakers said in a majority of Metro Manila bus lines, drivers get a commission of nine percent from the gross collection while conductors receive seven percent.

The bus owners or operators are the ones who set the commission rate for drivers and conductors. Not meeting the quota for the day would deprive them of the coveted bonus or worse, half of the cost of the gasoline will be deducted from their collections and their commission would be computed based on the remaining amount, they said."

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/12/18/1269393/bus-firm-probed-possible-labor-violations

 

Next time you get on some public conveyance, whether a bus, taxi, etc, take a look at the tires, especially if it's raining. That's one critical safety factor you can see with your own eyes.

 

 

 

[jpbago]

It is not only the drivers and conductors that make more money if they drive fast and load up on passengers, even standing up while on the highway, but the owner/operator makes more too per passenger so they do not want to pay by the hour.

If they drive fast, they use more fuel, and then if they don't make quota, they pay half of the fuel costs. It is win win for the owners.

We got on a bus the other day which was standing room only yet right behind us was another bus with seating available but the front bus would not let the 2nd bus pass as he wanted all the pick ups. Crazy!!!

[earthdome]

Not all Philippine bus companies are the same. I like the bright red uniforms and hats the ladies selling tickets at the Victory Liner terminals wear, they have a throwback look from the 1940's or 1950's.