Lack of seatbelts on buses is obvious risk - coroner

Bus driver Michael Elcombe and passenger Brian Chapman died in the collision

A coroner has said there is an "obvious risk" to passengers if seatbelts are not provided on cross-country bus routes, following a fatal accident in 2018.

Two men were killed when a bus and lorry collided on the A47 near Wisbech St Mary in Cambridgeshire on 26 June that year.

Coroner Simon Milburn has asked the government to take action to "prevent future deaths" as part of a report published this week.

The Department for Transport (DfT) pointed out that seatbelts were required on all-seater buses.

Bus driver Michael Elcombe, who was 45 and from Swaffham in Norfolk, and top-deck passenger Brian Chapman, 76, from Kettering in Northamptonshire, were both killed in the incident.

They were on the First Eastern Counties bus travelling between Peterborough and Norwich - a journey of about 80 miles (129km).

Mr Milburn said the vehicle was not fitted with seatbelts.

Buses that are designed to carry standing passengers, and for driving in urban areas, are not mandated to provide them.

The coroner pointed out that while the bus stopped off at about "five to six" urban centres, the majority of the route was rural and using major A roads.

The vehicle was moving at 53mph (85km/h) at the time of the crash.

In his prevention of future deaths report, Mr Milburn said there was no evidence either death would have been prevented by seatbelts.

However, he said: "I am concerned where buses are undertaking journeys such as this through predominantly rural locations and subject to the national speed limit without seatbelts being required, there is an obvious risk of death to passengers if collisions occur, particularly at high speed.

First Bus refused to comment.

A DfT spokesperson said: “We offer our sincere condolences to Mr Chapman’s family and friends.

“While travelling by bus and coach is one of the safest modes of transport, we are committed to improving the safety for all bus passengers.

“Since 2001, seatbelts have been required in all new buses with the exemption of those that are designed to carry standing passengers and typically operate at slower speeds on urban routes.”

The DfT said it wrote to the coroner previously, explaining that it thought the current regulations for seatbelts on buses were appropriate.