Bus Safety Questioned After Passenger Deaths
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday June 21, 2006
A CORONER is investigating whether Sydney Buses needs to update its safety procedures after the deaths of two elderly women.
Glebe Coroner's Court heard that Moya Rose Best, 75, was taken by ambulance to St Vincent's Hospital for brain surgery after falling on a bus bound for Bronte on February 3, 2005. She died three days later. Norma Velyvis, 78, died on February 4, 2005, after she fell over on a bus bound for Little Bay.Closed-circuit television footage from on board the 378 Bronte bus showed Mrs Best taking a seat behind the driver that was reserved for elderly or disabled passengers. She later rose from her seat as the bus pulled out from the kerb. The footage showed her being thrown heavily backwards.Constable Shelley Ellis said footage showed the driver had checked the mirror, and at that stage Mrs Best was still seated. "It does not appear that [the driver] acted negligently," she said.The driver, whose name was suppressed, gave evidence that the new gas-powered Mercedes buses all gave a slight jerk, and the diesel-powered buses gave a smoother take-off. He told Deputy State Coroner, Dorelle Pinch, that there were no signs on the buses warning that they jerked. He said the disabled seat directly behind the driver was a "blind spot", but later agreed under questioning by John Dailly SC, for the State Transit Authority, that there was a security mirror which gave vision of that seat.The driver said he thought his speed was 2 kmh. Under questioning from counsel assisting the coroner, Matthew Breeze, he agreed he was running a couple of minutes late but said there were no penalties for lateness.The inquest continues.
© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald