A bus carrying Norwegian exchange students crashed on E45 outside Storuman over the weekend, but no one died in the accident. Traffic safety expert Ulf Björnstig is surprised by the outcome and stresses the role of seatbelts in preventing fatalities. He suggests technical solutions to boost seatbelt usage.
Over the weekend, a bus loaded with exchange students from Norway veered off E45 in Storuman and overturned in a ditch. The crash occurred amid slippery winter conditions, a common trigger for such incidents according to Ulf Björnstig, professor emeritus in surgery and traffic safety researcher at Umeå University.
Despite the crash's severity, with the bus tipping over, all passengers survived without fatalities – an unusual outcome. Björnstig, involved in several bus accident investigations, notes that similar crashes typically result in three to nine deaths. "I am surprised, but it is extremely gratifying that there were no fatalities in the crash", he says. He points out that victims are often ejected through windows and crushed under the vehicle.
Seatbelt use is highlighted as the key factor for survival. "Seatbelts are the absolute most important for avoiding fatal accidents", Björnstig explains. He speculates that passengers may have worn them, though police are still investigating. Without belts, unsecured travelers risk injury from falling passengers. "It is an unsolidary act to travel without one", he adds.
To encourage seatbelt use, the expert proposes an indicator light at seats that illuminates when a belt is missing. "Perhaps this crash shows that they used seatbelts since there are no deaths", says Björnstig. Statistics from Umeå University and the Accident Investigation Commission indicate major bus accidents occur every two to three years over the past two decades.
The Swedish Transport Administration plans to probe the incident, including snow removal and anti-skid measures, while police examine the bus's speed.