I have been bemused by the reports in Look in on London and elsewhere that Transport for London is insisting that bodybuilders introduce a rake to the frontal profile of buses in the belief that such a shape will inflict less serious injuries on pedestrians who are hit. This infers not so much an ‘if’ as a ‘when’.
I do not visit London often, but I now have a mental picture made up of a worryingly large number of otherwise healthy and fit pedestrians who wander aimlessly into the path of huge red buses. I also find it sad that it no longer seems to be the pedestrian’s fault, the blame now being put on someone or something else.
TfL in making these new rules, however, really ought to look at the way the styling of private cars is going, especially sports utility vehicles (SUVs), which have developed a really aggressive look. I cite in particular the Kia Sorento, Volvo XC40, Toyota RAV4 and Hyundai Santa Fe, which have large high-positioned or upright grilles.
On such an SUV if one were to measure the entire frontal area where conflict with pedestrians might occur, I am sure the result would be little less than that of a bus. So is TfL going to ask these carmakers to come into line and soften the fronta…
