The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and its affiliates in urban public transport and road passenger transport came together in Rome to demand action from governments to improve the safety of buses.
Research from the Norwegian Institute of Transport Economics has demonstrated that existing bus safety standards are totally inadequate for protecting drivers in the event of a frontal collision, with an estimated 963 drivers having been killed in the past decade in Europe due to these deficiencies. Even collisions at low speed (30 km/h) have proved fatal.
Coming together in Rome, ETF affiliates from across Europe will today share experiences from their respective countries and launch a united call addressed to governments, employers and manufacturers that every bus driver has the right to a safe working environment. In particular, bus driver unions are demanding that UN vehicle regulations are amended to address existing shortcomings regarding issues such as crumple zones and airbags.
At the culmination of the event, ETF and its affiliates will present and adopt Protecting Drivers: ETF Manifesto for Safer Buses. This political manifesto sets out clearly the problems facing bus safety and the solutions required from policymakers. This document will form the basis of future advocacy.
The event runs from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM local time, featuring panel discussions, country-specific case studies, and strategic planning to bring about the required change.
