- I think that Västtrafik and the bus companies must do more and that it must be done at a faster pace, says Malin Lundgren, operations manager at NTF Väst.
For many, it may feel natural to wear the bus belt when traveling on longer bus journeys on, for example, motorways or smaller roads in the country, but many believe that a seat belt is not needed when riding a bus inside the city.
The belts save lives
And even though it is natural to put on the seat belt in the car, which is a legal requirement, buses in particular seem to make the public hesitate to do the same.
Even if the belts save lives.
In five major bus accidents during 2003-2018, 26 people were killed.
Six of them would probably have survived if they had used a belt:
Ängelsberg in Västmanland County in 2003
Arboga in Västmanland County in 2006
Rasbo in Uppsala County in 2007
Tranemo in Västra Götaland County in 2014
Sveg in Jämtland County in 2017
Not wearing a seat belt on the bus can mean a fine of SEK 1,500, but the risk of being fined is small.
The police do not have the resources to control the use of belts on buses to any great extent.
And being asked to put on your seatbelt, when the bus is full and there are no seats, becomes too confusing for many and renders the law ineffective.
Is there a law needed?
- Yes, it feels very logical, if you are sitting in a car and must have a seat belt, and it saves lives, then you should have it in a bus as well, says Maximilian Davidsson, traveler.