Transit bus collisions lead to significant fatalities, injuries, and property damage each year. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently analyzed all reported bus mode incidents from the National Transit Database (NTD) Safety & Security data from 2017 to 2022. This analysis revealed that collisions between transit buses and privately owned vehicles (POVs) were the most frequent, resulting in 30,008 incidents, 324 fatalities, and 36,556 injuries. Collisions with pedestrians and micromobility users were the second highest cause of fatalities, with 202 reported deaths.

However, identifying the root causes of these collisions is challenging due to the variability in data collection methods and definitions used by transit agencies and accident investigators. This variability complicates efforts to determine common causal factors, which are essential for developing targeted safety strategies.

The goal of this research is to identify key causal factors for transit bus collisions, with a focus on incidents involving POVs and pedestrians. The final report will offer practical guidance for FTA, transit agencies, and the broader transit industry to enhance safety measures and reduce the risk of fatalities and serious injuries.