In what seems to me to be a no-brainer, the British Medical Journal confirms that the availability of free bus travel in London helps reduce auto-related accidents involving teenagers. In a press-release to EurekAlert, they write:
The researchers wanted to assess the public health impact of giving teens in London free bus travel. The scheme was introduced for 12 to 16 year olds in 2005, and for 17 year olds in 2006.
They therefore used data from the London Area Transport Survey and London Travel Demand Surveys to calculate the number of journeys made in London—as well as distance and principal mode of travel—before (2001-4) and after (2005-9) the scheme was introduced.
And they looked at official data on traffic injuries and hospital admissions to see if the scheme had any noticeable effects on personal safety.
What the researchers found was that “rates of road traffic casualties had started falling before the introduction of the scheme, and continued to fall afterwards, but at a greater rate in young people, largely among passengers and cyclists.”
I am not sure that the study revealed anything about teenage drivers however, since researchers also noted “there was clear evidence of a fall in the number of short journeys cycled and in distances cycled by young people.”
It sounds like the real take-away from the study is that teenagers are safer riding buses in London rather than riding their bicycles (something Miami bicyclists can certainly agree with).
The press release also notes: “The number of daily car journeys taken by young people and adults fell, and the average distance travelled by car also shrank, suggesting that free bus travel prompts a shift away from car use and may therefore be a greener option.”
Ursyl Kukura-Straw
June 14, 2013 at 7:49 pmUrsyl Kukura-Straw liked this on Facebook.
Nancy Mielke
June 14, 2013 at 11:50 pmNancy Mielke liked this on Facebook.
Beth Molina
June 15, 2013 at 4:06 amMost buses don’t travel where most people live.
Jaques
December 27, 2013 at 7:20 amBus traveling is one of the best and safest for young people and also much better than car traveling and we may reduce the road traffic injuries. I think you can save the money, fuel, etc.
Mark
January 6, 2014 at 10:31 amI agree with Jaques that Bus traveling is much better than the car traveling. If you want to live safe then I will recommend that you should always travel in bus.
special thanks to MelanieDawn for sharing such a great information with us.
Justin
January 9, 2014 at 2:13 pmOf course, I agree that car traveling is very dangerous than bus traveling. I think There are many benefits of bus traveling such as fastest time travel, Comfortability, Safest, and an ideal way to travel for business.
Harrison
January 11, 2014 at 5:11 amThere are plenty of benefits of bus travel. The major benefits is that it reduces the traffic jams in the rush hour in major cities.
Mike
January 11, 2014 at 12:11 pmAt the present time there are lot’s of people traveling by bus. It’s very helpful for them not one money but also safety.