Two alarming bus-related incidents have drawn attention to safety issues within Brazilian public transportation, highlighting both personal tragedy and systemic failures. On October 16, 2023, in Juiz de Fora, a man became trapped beneath the shell of a bus as he attempted to salvage parts from the vehicle at the Viação São Francisco bus company garage. According to the Corpo de Bombeiros (Fire Department), the incident occurred when the jack—an apparatus used for lifting vehicles—failed, causing the bus to tip partially onto the victim. Firefighters employed various tools to safely lift the bus and extract the man, who had been pinned down but tragically suffered only compression injuries to his pelvis. He was swiftly transported to the Hospital de Pronto Socorro.
Just days earlier, on October 13, 2023, another bus incident devastated families when bus JC-308, which had been operating without brakes, collided violently with ten parked vehicles at the intersection of Arthur Bernardes and Iguaçu avenues in Curitiba. The crash claimed the life of businessman Marcos Lazario, 49, who was tragically trapped within the wreckage of his car.
What compounds the tragedy surrounding these incidents is the reality of the bus fleets operating on Brazilian streets. The unfortunate collision involving bus JC-308 was not merely an isolated failure but rather part of broader systemic lapses within the public transportation framework. The vehicle had been part of the city's public transport system for over four years beyond its operational limit of ten years. While this limit is set forth by company protocols, the president of Urbas, Ogeny Pedro Maia Neto, insisted during an interview with Band, "Não significa que os ônibus não tenham condições de operar. Até porque nós fazemos inspeções mais curtas..." This implies regular inspections are meant to assure safety, yet questions linger about the efficacy of those checks.
Despite Urbas's claims of inspections—one of which was conducted on November 8, 2023—there remains widespread public concern as the older buses continue to pose risks on the roads. According to Urbs, the public transportation authority, approximately 600 buses currently exceed the ten-year limit without forced retirement from the road. They stated, "O ônibus fez a última inspeção em 8/11, quando foi atestado o pleno funcionamento..." ensuring the vehicle was deemed operational up until its tragic malfunction.
The city’s transportation policies have reportedly been compromised for years, particularly following legal loopholes exploited by bus operators. Since 2013, these drivers have neglected the mandated replacement of aging buses after obtaining court orders allowing their older vehicles to continue operating. According to various reports, this has resulted in older models becoming commonplace, with limited oversight of their safety standards.
While both incidents call for scrutiny, the trapping of the man under the bus emphasizes immediate risks encountered by those working with these vehicles and raises questions about safety protocols. His case illuminates the dire need for effective operational safety, stressing how the equipment failure— the jack—resulted in potentially lethal consequences.
Meanwhile, after the fatal crash, the investigation continued as the Police Civil has formally notified the owners of the offending bus, Expresso Azul, for clarity and accountability related to their aging fleet management.
This current wave of bus-related accidents—both from the perspective of on-road safety and operational management—highlights not only the dangers but also systemic failures plaguing public transport. These incidents raise serious questions about accountability and the necessity for reforms concerning aging vehicle inspections, the management's willingness to prioritize public safety above operational costs, and the broader responsibility of transportation authorities and operators alike.
Both events serve as stark reminders of the potential dangers lurking on the streets, whether for those waiting at bus stops or those working to maintain these aging vehicles. The community’s collective grief and outrage only echo louder with these repeated failings, compelling residents to demand meaningful reforms to protect both operators and the public alike as they navigate the increasingly hazardous reality of commuting across Brazil's extensive bus network.
