Photo: Wikipedia Commons.
Buckle up on the bus! Current state of knowledge, preconditions for implementation, and preparation of a seat belt reminder study
Bus travel is one of the safest modes of transport. Between 2011 and 2020, fewer than one person per year was killed in bus crashes, while approximately 14 people were seriously injured annually. Nevertheless, serious crashes do occur, many of them involving rollovers and taking place outside urban areas. In crashes that have occurred, seat belt use has been shown to make the difference between life and death.
According to the Swedish Transport Administration’s traffic safety survey, only 38 percent of respondents report using a seat belt on buses when one is available. Observational studies indicate an even lower rate. Poor design and maintenance of seat belts are part of the explanation.
Increasing seat belt use in bus transport requires a combination of measures. Communication, enforcement and sanctions can have an effect, but studies also point to considerable potential in seat belt reminder systems. Such systems have long been standard in passenger cars and have contributed to establishing a strong culture of seat belt use, with usage rates reaching 97 percent. The question is how we can achieve the same development in bus transport.
A project funded by the Swedish Transport Administration’s Skyltfonden traffic safety fund is compiling current knowledge on seat belt use in bus transport as a basis for further work. The project also analyses the conditions for implementing seat belt reminder systems on buses through interviews with relevant stakeholders, particularly regional public transport authorities. The study will be reported in October 2026 and will inform subsequent work.
There is growing interest within the bus industry in addressing seat belt use, and joint steps are being taken to increase seat belt use on buses. The Swedish Bus and Coach Federation, the Swedish Public Transport Association, the Swedish Transport Administration and the Swedish Transport Agency are participating in the project, following its progress and providing input to the work.