ECBOS - Enhanced Coach and Bus Occupant Safety

In EC approximately 20,000 coaches, over 5,000 kg in size, are involved in accidents with personal injuries. Every year more than 35,000 persons are injured within these accidents. Over 250 occupants of buses and coaches suffer fatal injuries annually. During the last years no tendency for a significant reduction can be found. Therefore the general objective of this project is to generate new knowledge, based on accident studies, for minimising the incidence and cost of injuries caused by bus and coach accidents. It will be achieved by developing cost effective test and evaluation methods for the assessment of the protection offered to the bus occupant and driver in frontal, side and rollover accidents. Emphasis will be put on the various passenger sizes including children. M2, M3 and city buses will be investigated. The project results in a European bus accident database, written regulations and suggested test methods.