Gas prices are being constantly driven up in price in both Canada and the United States and it doesn't appear as though anything is going to be able to stop this crisis from happening. Gas prices are leaving millions of people in a dilemma of whether to drive or not to work, or if public transportation might be a better option. Now though both the public buses and taxis want to instate new fares to coincide with the current gas prices. The taxi drivers have been complaining that they aren't making any money due to the high cost of gas prices and they feel that they need to increase fare prices to help with the gas costs. Buses are also planning to raise their fares but this shouldn't take effect until early 2009.
With public transportation risking raising their prices this is making it even harder for people to travel around now as some are forced to start walking now. It's also not safe to walk in some inner-city neighbourhoods at night and with the cost of taxis many women are being stuck walking alone at night to their houses. This could pose a number of problems and concerns, and frankly it's only one of the problems with the gas prices rising so high.
Many people aren't driving around much except to work and are staying in more often which isn't good as people need to get out. It's also caused lots of people financial hard ache because they are being forced to either fill-up at the pumps or take public transportation which is also on the rise.
There isn't much solution to the problem though and this is only the early stages of the problem. There isn't any magical stashes of oil that nobody has found and there isn't any oil growing on trees anywhere so people need to begin to adapt to the fact that what once was something taken for granted is now a near used up resource. There is still enough oil to last considerable amount of time but the price will only continue rising and never drop because the fact is there isn't anymore oil once this is gone so countries are charging more for it to try and use less. This is also the reason behind hybrid cars and such that run on alternative energy and is a lot safer for the environment and less of a burden on your wallet.
If you're moving anytime soon make sure that you move close to where you work because in the next twenty years it's going to be important that you live close to everything like work, school, food and such things because gas is going to be extremely costly. So either you must adapt to a new source of energy or you'll need to spend a nice chunk of your pay checks on gas and leave hardly any left for other necessities. Wise people are already switching to other means of energy powered vehicles and these early adapters will be best suited in five to ten years when everyone begins to make the change.
Each year millions of individuals board buses or other forms of transit either to save money on gasoline, help the environment or simply to get from one destination to another. However, as public transportation becomes a more popular mode of travel, more individuals become at risk for being involved in a bus accident and developing bus or transit accident-induced injuries.
Additionally, the 2004 SSO Annual Report from the FTA also found that while ridership had increased significantly in a five-year period, fatalities were the highest they had been in a six-year period and were reaching 57 percent in 2004 alone.
Bus Accidents
There are a number of reasons and factors that can contribute to a bus or transit accident. The National Center for Transit Research (NCTR) and the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida recently conducted a study on how to improve and analyze bus safety. The researchers found that the following are several reasons for bus crashes:
* location of stop
* roadway surface type
* weather conditions
* traffic conditions
* operator status (as in a regular operator, mini-run, extra board, supervisor, etc.)
* transit vehicle movement prior to and during the time of accident
* vehicle defects at time of accident as well as last preventive maintenance
* movements of other vehicles during or prior to collision
* evasive action taken by driver
* passenger movement during or prior to accident
* pedestrian or cyclist movement prior to and during accident
* observed conditions of other driver/pedestrian/cyclist/passengers at time of accident
* additional contributory factors
Because of the extensive list of potential contributory factors that can be involved in a bus collision, it is important that steps are taken to decrease any incident that may occur. Sometimes, however, a bus accident can occur because of lack of adequate highway or roadway signage as well as other additional highway issues.
For example, a bus accident that killed five student athletes in March 2007 occurred because of poor roadway signage. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since recommended that highway signage be improved by becoming clearer and more consistent. But this is just one step that has been taken and often has other drivers and passengers begging to know how to reduce the risk of a bus collision.
Improving Bus Safety
Currently, not all states require their transit systems to report and produce any type of system safety program plans. While the NCTR is working with several states to develop more significant bus accident data and tracking research, not much is being done to implement more significant safety measures that affect current passengers and vehicular drivers.
Although the FTA accompanied by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are devising a plan that will implement improved technology likely to decrease accidents. The plan is known as the National Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI). In Pittsburgh, their work has contributed to an 80 percent reduction of claims after the bus authority implemented new safety equipment, including IVI, and procedures in buses.
Since the development of the IVI transportation plan, researchers from the group have reported that:
*42 state and local transit initiatives were on the ballots in November 2002
* More than 120 transportation corridors are seeking funding for the IVI plan
* Lane assistance technology (part of the IVI
transportation plan) may reduce the cost of an automated guideway transit (AGT) - a grade separated transit system running on wheels being guided (similar to a lightrail system)by up to 20 percent. An AGT commonly costs approximately $100 million.
Although the nationwide IVI plan is becoming more commonplace, there are an array of bus transit technologies being researched to decrease accidents, fatalities and injuries for bus accident victims.
For now, individuals can use the following steps and procedures to decrease a passengers risk for becoming injured because of a bus accident or bus collision:
* do not stand on a moving bus without holding on to proper safety bars or straps
* sit up straight on the bus
* do not engage in any activities that might distract
a bus driver
* avoid hanging items or limbs out of windows
* keep voices low and avoid loud, distracting conversations
* teach children to behave properly while on the bus and do not let them throw, run or partake in any horseplay
Additionally, individuals should avoid driving in bus lanes or designated bus stops as well as driving courteously but defensively on the road. If an individual is standing or walking near a bus stop or bus lane, remaining as far away from the designated bus area is advised.
Seeking Help When Involved in Bus Accident
Individuals who have been involved with a bus collision, may feel lost and alone. However, seeking medical attention and legal consultation can offer assistance in returning to normalcy in one's life. Contacting a knowledgeable bus accident lawyer may offer insight into overcoming a bus collision. Many times, law firms provide free legal consultation in order to ease the distress of developing a lawsuit after a traumatic ordeal.
Both Brenda Williams & Peter Kent are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.