The number of accidents involving STIB public transport vehicles in Brussels has remained stable, but slightly more involved pedestrians and cyclists last year.
STIB's trams and buses move across most of the region, either in separate spaces or on the roads alongside cars and other vulnerable road users, meaning these vehicles sometimes are involved in, or even cause, accidents.
A total of 4,153 accidents involving STIB's trams and buses took place in the Belgian capital last year, a slight rise compared to 2021. However, the company's spokesperson stressed that the two years cannot be fully compared.
"It should be remembered that the year 2021 was badly affected by the Covid-19 health crisis, resulting in much lower traffic in the capital," Guy Sablon told The Brussels Times.
Two fatal collisions with trams
Last year, STIB recorded 1,147 traffic accidents involving one of its trams, of which 1,109 were collisions with other road users or fixed objects. This figure was up from 1,117 in 2021, of which 1,085 were collisions.
Of all traffic accidents involving collision in 2022, 33 cases involved a pedestrian, seven more than the previous year. However, the number of injuries dropped from 73 in 2021 to 66 in 2022. Last year, two fatal accidents were recorded.
STIB noted that these figures should be nuanced in relation to its total fleet. In 2022, STIB had a total of 395 trams, covering 15.5 million km, meaning there are 0.7 traffic accidents for every 10,000 kilometres travelled. "The number of injuries is less than one person (0.041) per 10,000 km."
More buses, more accidents
The number of accidents involving buses in Brussels is much higher: In 2022, STIB recorded 3,006 road accidents involving one of its buses, up from 2,699 in 2021. Of the 3,006 accidents, 77 involved a cyclist or other vehicle, up from 43 in 2021, while 42 involved a bus and a pedestrian, 16 more than the previous year.
Of all the accidents involving buses, 165 resulted in injuries, but none in fatalities.
Sablon stressed that the number of accidents with buses is so much higher because there are twice as many buses as trams, and they also cover twice as many kilometres.
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STIB has a total of 860 buses (compared to 395 trams), covering 30.3 million km (compared to 15,5 million km). There are therefore 0.9 road accidents for every 10,000 kilometres travelled, while the number of injured people is less than one person (0.05) per 10,000 km.
He also noted that the number of accidents caused by trams, but also by buses, is lower than those caused by cars in the capital. STIB has not yet provided figures for 2023.
