Report on head-on collision on fv. 222 at Tangen in Stange municipality, Innlandet on 11 March 2021
Road traffic report 2022/02
At 15:11 on 11 March 2021, two identical buses in regular service for Vy Buss AS collided in a curve on the Fv 222 road near Tangen in Stange municipality. Both buses were operating on assignment for Innlandet county authority. The northbound bus had no passengers, while the southbound bus had three passengers. The driver of the southbound bus died despite low speeds in the collision. The investigation has shown that the current regulatory requirements for collision characteristics in buses is not sufficient to ensure the safety of drivers. No one else was injured in the accident. The investigation findings indicate that Vy Buss AS should improve its overall approach to safe driving in winter conditions. Innlandet county authority, as client and road owner, should also place greater emphasis on traffic safety in the design and follow-up of public transport contracts.
The day before the accident, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute had issued a weather warning for very heavy snow in the area. At the time of the accident, it was daylight and there was some snow in the air. The road had been ploughed, but had yet to be gritted and the roadway was covered in snow, which meant that the road markings were not visible. The road geometry for the curve in question was also challenging. The buses were fitted with non-studded winter tyres that complied with the applicable requirements, and the tyres had not been equipped with snow chains.
The investigation has shown that, when entering the curve, the northbound bus was travelling at a speed of approx. 55 km/h and the southbound bus at a speed of approx. 36 km/h. The driver of the northbound bus lost control and the bus partly crossed into the opposite lane in the right-hand curve, where it collided with the southbound bus.
The buses collided on the drivers’ sides; left corner against left corner. The A pillar in the northbound bus penetrated the driver’s seat in the southbound bus, inflicting fatal injuries on the driver of the southbound bus despite the low speed of the collision. The applicable crashworthiness requirements for buses are thus not sufficient to ensure the safety of drivers.
The driver of the northbound bus had not noticed that the road friction was too low, seen in relation to the road geometry in the area and the speed and tyres of the bus. The driver had only driven buses in winter road conditions for one season.
Overall, the investigation findings indicate that Vy Buss AS should improve its overall approach to safe driving in winter conditions. This includes enhanced training and follow-up of bus drivers, and systematic assessment of tyres and critical points on individual routes. The NSIA considers that this will help to increase drivers’ driving skills and understanding of risk in winter conditions.
Moreover, the contract between Innlandet county authority and Vy Buss AS made little individual reference to traffic safety. The investigation findings confirm that Innlandet county authority, as client and road owner, should place greater emphasis on traffic safety factors in the design and follow-up of public transport contracts. Innlandet county authority should also make requirements of improved crashworthiness for bus drivers, exceeding the current requirements.
The NSIA submits three safety recommendations as a result of this investigation.
Published 07.03.2022
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation Road No 2022/06T
The head-on collision on the Fv 222 road in Stange municipality on 11 March 2021 occurred when the driver of a northbound bus lost control of the vehicle in a curve. The road was narrow and winding, and the roadway was covered in snow. The driver of the northbound bus did not notice that the road friction was too low in relation to the road geometry and the speed and tyres of the bus. The driver had only driven buses in winter road conditions for one season. The investigation has shown that there may be a gap between Vy Buss AS`s expectations of competence of bus drivers after obtaining driver`s license, and the drivers` actual driving skills and risk understanding.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that Vy Buss AS review and improve its overall approach to safe driving in winter conditions. This includes enhanced training and follow-up of drivers, and systematic assessment of tyres and critical points on individual routes.
Safety recommendation Road No 2022/07T
The head-on collision on the Fv 222 road in Stange municipality on 11 March 2021 occurred when the driver of a northbound bus lost control of the vehicle in a curve. The road was narrow and winding, and the roadway was covered in snow. The investigation has shown that the contract between Innlandstrafikk as client and Vy Buss AS as operator made little individual reference to traffic safety. Innlandet county authority had identified a high risk of vehicles running off the road in the curve, but this had not been communicated to Vy Buss AS. Nor did the contract contain any information about the road network’s winter maintenance classes and Innlandstrafikk had not established procedures to follow up operators in the event of weather warnings.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that Innlandet county authority, in the design and follow-up of public transport contracts, place greater emphasis on traffic safety factors and use the full range of its competencies and responsibilities as road owner and client.
Safety recommendation Road No 2022/08T
The head-on collision on the Fv 222 road in Stange municipality on 11 March 2021 occurred when a northbound bus crossed over into the opposite lane and collided with a southbound bus. The A pillar in the northbound bus penetrated the driver’s seat in the southbound bus, inflicting fatal injuries on the driver of the southbound bus despite the relatively low speed of the collision. The applicable crashworthiness requirements for buses are thus not sufficient to ensure the safety of drivers. As the party ordering transport services, Innlandet county authority has a direct influence on traffic safety through contracts, particularly when these make greater requirements than national and international regulations.
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority recommends that Innlandet county authority include enhanced crashworthiness for bus drivers, exceeding the current regulations, as a requirement in public transport contracts.
Facts
| Location | Fv. 222 on Tangen in Stange municipality, Innlandet |
| Occurrence date | 11.03.2021 |
| Accident type | Head-on collision |
| Road class | County road |
| County | Innlandet |
| Police Disctrict | Innlandet |
| Vehicle type | Bus or coach |
| Type of Transportation | Passenger transport |
| Road region | Innlandet |
| Accident category | Accident with bus |