As a lawyer who has handled bus and truck crashes for 30 years and a resident of Philadelphia, there is little wonder why there have been a series of crashes. I frequently observe SEPTA buses speeding through neighborhoods at upwards of 40 miles per hour on narrow streets, with lanes barely wide enough for the bus. At that speed they cover 60 feet a second, and have lengthy stopping distances. The perception and reaction time of the driver would be at least 1.5 seconds meaning they cover half a block before the driver can even react to hit the brakes. If they were just going 30 miles per hour, the stopping distance would be greatly reduced. Someone in authority should react to this by requiring drivers to never exceed speed limits on risk of losing their jobs. Schedules should not trump safety.
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