Dublin Bus accident rate at lowest for decade

Dublin Bus said today the number of crashes and accidents involving its vehicles has fallen to the lowest level for ten years.

The number of incidents dropped by 12 per cent last year, despite a larger bus fleet and increased passenger numbers.

However, in its annual report published today, the company also expressed its sympathy to the families of the five people who were killed and the 14 people injured when they were struck by a bus on Wellington Quay.

"There was a tragic accident at Wellington Quay last year but safety is an ongoing priority at Dublin

bus," said spokeswoman Gráinne Macken.

The company set aside €15.5 million last year for passenger and staff compensation claims. Ms Macken said the reduction in accidents was mainly due to an increased level of staff training, with around 60 per cent of drivers passing courses at the Institute of Advanced Motoring so far.

Dublin Bus revenue grew by 3 per cent last year to €178 million and the company had an operating surplus of €2 million. But its passenger numbers stayed flat at 149 million.

Ms Macken said it had lost up to seven million passengers to the Luas light rail system, with around 50 per cent of all its passengers coming from Dublin Bus. "We've seen a migration of passengers from buses to the Luas. But we've freed up resources and opened up new routes, so we did grow our passengers in other areas," she said.

A company is currently awaiting the results of a review before deciding if buses will be taken off routes now served by the Green and Red Luas lines.

Last year, Dublin Bus had a fleet of 1,067 buses travelling nearly 60 million kilometres on more than 170 routes.

Despite the introduction of quality bus corridors, traffic congestion is still costing Dublin Bus €49 million each year. It spent €42 million on a new bus depot in Harristown in North Dublin and replaced 36 buses with low floor models which are accessible for disabled people. Around 45 per cent of the fleet is now made up of low floored buses.

Dublin Bus received a subsidy of €62 million from the Government last year, which amounts to 26 per cent of operating costs.