Four dead in a bus crash on Connector Hwy 97

[captkirkcanada]

Real world doesn't work like that. You can't run a reliable transport business if your drivers are inexperienced or scared of rough conditions.
If that were the case the store shelves would be empty all winter. How long you been in the transport industry?

Twenty three years if it makes a difference and half those years as an owner operator, born and raised in BC. I know very well how “the real world” works, I’d rather have a driver I can trust to say the roads not good let’s wait, I’ve done it myself with employers and customers. No load or arrival time ever made me do anything I wasn’t comfortable doing, getting there late is better than never. Maybe there wouldn’t be so much carnage on the roads if the inexperienced ones knew they could say no, and the experienced would stop trying to be the hero that blew through the bad conditions at any cost to have bragging rights at the next stop.

Exactly , if you cant say ok the roads not safe , you dont deserve to be on the road . Play dumb games win fumb prizes in this case killing four ppl . Sad and didnt have to happen

[The_quiet_one]

Every Canadian worker does have the right to refuse unsafe work, without repercussions. But "safe" doesn't mean "without risk". Driving a bus that is not properly equipped or mechanically sound, would be considered unsafe. If the highway is open and the bus is in proper condition, that would not be considered unsafe in this context.

Absolutely agree.

[marvin gardens]

Icy road conditions?True.
So far, excessive speed for the road conditions has not been mentioned.
A neighbour, a professional driver suggested the bus veering left, and ending in the opposite lane before tipping indicates excessive speed?
E bus drivers often travel over the speed limit, as did Greyhound, as witnessed by the passengers that traveled with them.

[Fancy]

...
So far, excessive speed for the road conditions has not been mentioned.
...

It was by a passenger.

[Saviour]

The buses are required to carry tire chains and put them on when needed, a set of singles if they aren’t pulling a trailer and triples if they are pulling a trailer. I’ve never seen an Ebus pulling a trailer. Generally the second axle on a bus is just a tag axle and there is a switch that allows the driver to lift it putting more pressure on the drive axle which is enough to get them up most hills, I’m not sure if all buses have this feature but I know Greyhound did. Just Google it, there are plenty of pictures and video of buses chained up. It’s a five minute job, even on a bus. As far as tires go they can run a winter or an M+S like a lot of trucks do, either way chains are still required to be carried. I don’t know which tires Ebus runs. I’ve had to run chains for over a hundred kilometres at times both on and off highway, they’re cheap insurance.

Highway coaches such as the ones operated by companies like Ebus weigh more than 11794kg which exempts them from carrying chains under the BC Motor Vehicle Act (Section 7.163). If a bus without winter tires and weighs less than 11794kg, they must carry chains or other traction device such as a sander or socks. There was some confusion about this a few years ago when the BC Government amended the legislation but as per the current MVA, coaches still appear to be exempt.

The coaches Greyhound used, such as the MCI D4500 had tags that could be raised.

[alanjh595]

What axel should chains be applied to prevent this accident?

On the rear would help with traction during acceleration, on the front, would help with steering.

WHAT was the cause of the accident?

[dodgerdodge]

Interesting update. This part seems to infer driver and or vehicle was to blame. And i quote:

“Road conditions observed at the crash site immediately following the incident were within the specifications set by the ministry for winter road maintenance,” said Fleming.

He adds that there were no other vehicle incidents reported or observed on the connector that day.
https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/403419 ... -bus-crash

[Urban Cowboy]

What axel should chains be applied to prevent this accident?

On the rear would help with traction during acceleration, on the front, would help with steering.

WHAT was the cause of the accident?

Going purely on speculation, but based on where I think the crash happened, I'm of the mind he was driving too fast for road conditions. That corner (where Hwy 5A intersects) is a challenge on a good day if you're going too quick headed west. Not sure if that's the spot though.

[mpom]

It is very unfortunate that this keeps happening. A professional driver must know the limitations of the vehicle they are operating. Clearly, this bus was being driven too fast for road conditions, and inexperience may have a part as well. Road conditions change continuously/rapidly on the connector and drivers must adapt, sometimes with no warning whatsoever. There is no way that the snow removal contractor can be everywhere for everyone. During heavy snowfall, the plow could be 10 minutes ahead of you and there's no way to tell. Numerous incidents that I've seen this winter are speed related. Traction control just gets the poorly skilled driver further into the rhubarb. People driving on the snow covered connector have passed me at ridiculous speeds; at least 130 km/h.

[MAPearce]

Ah .. the Kangaroo court of Castanet ..

Wait for the results of the investigation , M'kay ?

If it were any of you "naysayers" being speculated about , how would you feel ?


You ARE being accused of killing FOUR people ................

[MAPearce]

What axel should chains be applied to prevent this accident?

On the rear would help with traction during acceleration, on the front, would help with steering.

WHAT was the cause of the accident?

well alan .. there are TWO axles on the rear of a bus .

One is a drive axel that transfers torque from the transmission to the drive wheel(s) and then there's the "tag" axle .

Which one would you like to talk about ?

[MAPearce]

*removed*

[Saviour]

well alan .. there are TWO axles on the rear of a bus .

One is a drive axel that transfers torque from the transmission to the drive wheel(s) and then there's the "tag" axle .

Which one would you like to talk about ?

The poster was pretty clear about that in his query:

On the rear would help with traction during acceleration, on the front, would help with steering.

[Tero]

I get what you’re saying but you’re wrong, everyone has the right to refuse unsafe work without repercussions anywhere in this country. If they want to be difficult most drivers can find another probably better job in a couple hours

Nope ... Do remember that it is THIS country .

High pay comes with inherent risks . It's WINTER in the Great White North

Just like the freedom of movement.. How many of those passengers chose the bus because their flights were cancelled ?

Gods speed to the victims , families and those who had to clean up the mess

YES REFUSE UNSAFE WORK! ... every single (legally) employed person in BC has the right to refuse unsafe work with no repercussions. It's policy under Worksafe BC. Everyone should know about this.

https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-sa ... nsafe-work

[Tero]

I cannot comment on whether Ebus drivers drive too fast, or speed. However, I will share an incident that I saw at the Kelowna airport, a few weeks ago. I saw a lineup of 30 or more people waiting to load into an Ebus. The driver, a fat, overweight man, was acting very rude and was yelling and shouting at his mostly young passengers and appeared to be explaining the rules to them ?

Yes, I "get" that rules need to be made clear to people, but is yelling and shouting at your passengers, helpful ?
I say that the speeding of the Ebus under dangerous winter road conditions, is consistent with one who also shouts and yells at his passengers.

Why ? Because it shows that you are an "a hole" who does not care about the safety of the public? It's not just one incident, either. Maybe the PTB (Passenger Transportation Board) needs to look into the fitness of the licence holder (Ebus) to offer rides to the public, both safely and professionally.

if you were recently on an EBus and your experience was less than satisfactory, you need to write a letter to the PTB and tell them your side of the story. If enough people write in, then the PTB may call a hearing into the licensee's fitness to hold a permit to operate a bus service.

What the hell does this have to do with the crash??? And what the hell does being overweight have to do with anything? What are you talking about???