SAFETY BUS CONCEPT
An 8 week Design for user experience- course at Advanced Product Design,
Umeå Institute of Design. Designers: Stephan Merkle, Erik Borg & Martin Hanberger
In collaboration with Volvo Buses 2008.
Are busses safe?
"With a stronger window construction, probably non of the passengers would been killed.”
-A report to the Swedish Accident Investigation Board.(Handeling the accident in Rasbo, Sweden 2004. Picture shown to the left)
-Pontus Albertsson mf.
In a collision with a small vehicle,
busses are relatively safe. If a bus collides with a larger vehicle, the risk of passengers in the front getting injured is high.
Weak construction
While observing the rescue operations, numerous problems were discovered. In crashes including 90 and 180 degrees rollovers the bus construction often collapses and emergency exits are blocked.
Rescue problems
The rescue team have to deal with securing the bus from not lit a fire, collapsing or sliding, cutting wider emergency exits, deal with luggage
obstacles and the limited space inside the bus. All this while they carefully evacuate wounded and chocked people.
Talking to experts
Close contact with bus crash expert Pontus Albertson and other researchers, made it possible to validate problem analysis and also to evaluate important developing steps.
A smart construction
Separate from the two leveled floor, a smart construction deforms in defined areas and the crossbars spread the impact energy trough the whole construction. This will reduce the impact on passengers and driver in a front or a back collision. There are no seats in the deformation zones above the wheels.
The construction helps the emergency exits stay intact in any kind of crash situation and will prevent roof collapse.
This coach offers 40 passenger seats, room for one wheelchair next to the driver seat.
Emergency exits
Emergency exits
are designed to function in any type of emergency
situation and weather condition. Exits can be opened in two step to prevent hypothermia, especially in the winter.
If fast evacuation in case of fire is needed, a big roof and back hatch can be opened. These hatches can also be used if weather condition allows, to simplify evacuation operation. This function will save a lot of time from todays roof-cutting to access the passengers. In a collision an immediate alarm is send to the fire station and ambulance to speed up the rescue phase.
Seats designed for emergency
In an emergency situation the seats are easily removed to gain operating space inside the bus. If a passenger is badly hurt or their neck needs to be secured, the passenger can stay buckled and the seat becomes a stretcher. No extra small stretcher for evacuation is needed. This will save important time and simplify collaboration between firemen and paramedics.
The seats are also designed to better meet children´s measurements, and are in the same time adjustable for adults. Same goes with the safe 3 point belt, which is spring loaded
downwards to fit various sizes.
These multi access seats are a great benefit for bus companies which now can offer a safe and comfortable ride for both children and adults in both long and short trips.
Hand luggage and clothes storage are moved from the roof and are placed inside and under the seat. The hand luggage and clothes are easy to access and this solution prevent these items becoming obstacles in an emergency situation.
Volvo safety bus concepts present a whole new way of traveling with
coaches, for both children, seniors and adults.
A visible construction and a new design language separate the Volvo Safety Bus Concept from other coaches.
With four electric wheel engines, this coach introduce a more enviroment friendly& accessible future bus traveling.