From the Sydney Morning Herald:
THE brakes on 80 new Volvo buses have been failing randomly for short bursts in a string of incidents that have injured passengers and placed the public at risk, according to scores of driver reports seen by the Herald.
Drivers warned State Transit Authority management as early as last September that the brakes were not slowing the buses properly before suddenly locking up.
But the buses, each worth $650,000, have continued to ply routes along the northern beaches, in the eastern suburbs and along Victoria Road. The drivers are demanding the buses be withdrawn from service.
A revenue protection officer was knocked to the floor of a Volvo bus that abruptly locked up last week. At least two passengers have been injured in similar incidents.
"As I came into the stop on Elizabeth Street, I braked as normal and nothing happened and I could not stop for another 60 metres past the stop. This is the most frightening brake incident I have had so far," a driver reported on April 4.
Volvo and the State Transit Authority say the buses are safe and blame drivers for not adapting to them. But the buses have been in service for 18 months, and complaints have intensified.
Three months ago, a depot manager listed several incidents, including: "A bendy bus sailing through a pedestrian crossing with pedestrian activity, another bendy bus attempting to stop in a bus zone that would have rear-ended another bus if there had have been one [there], an alarming report of passengers falling over when the emergency brakes were activated by the bus, not the driver, and another incident where a bendy bus rear-ended a car."
The reports all describe the brakes failing to react under normal foot pressure. The driver is then forced to slam on the brakes, bringing the bus to a sudden, jerky stop, and sometimes throwing passengers off their feet. The transit authority is believed to have a number of video recordings of the incidents.
Another driver complained directly to the authority's new chief executive, Peter Rowley, last week, bringing the number of written complaints to more than 70. "I was travelling at 40kmh and estimate that the bus travelled 20-30 metres without any response from the braking system," he wrote.
"Had this occurred during the afternoon on a school day, the 20-30 metres without braking response could mean the difference between stopping before a school crossing or on top of some school children."
The authority and Volvo have agreed to a trial of new software for the brakes. But the Rail, Tram and Bus Union took the authority to court this week over the matter, claiming the trial, originally scheduled for 90 days, was too long, and that passengers' lives were being put at risk."This is very dangerous because of the potential for collisions due to a miscalculation of the braking distance required … [we] believe that the continued use of these buses is placing the life of passengers and members of the public in danger," the union wrote.
Drivers are expected to vote on whether they should abandon the buses until the braking system on all 80 vehicles is replaced, which would devastate public transport during next month's World Youth Day.
Mr Rowley told the Herald yesterday that all the Volvo buses were "safe and in completely operable condition and fully comply with [Roads and Traffic Authority] regulations".
He said he was aware of the reports dating back to last year, but that numerous tests - including a 53-day trial - had been unable to replicate the problem.
Late yesterday, the transit authority agreed to a union request to shorten the trial to 45 days.
(Linton Besser, 20 June 2008)
The State Transit fleet consists of 80 - Volvo B12BLE Articulated Custom Coaches buses, used on the 333 route between the city and Bondi Beach, amongst other routes.
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