Bus braking caused three injuries in Funchal

Tobi Hughes·
Madeira News

Three people were injured, this morning, following an incident on a bus, on Rua João Paulo II, in Funchal.

As it was possible to find out, the bus driver braked to go over a bump, injuring the passengers who were rescued by the Sapadores Firefighters of Funchal and the Madeiran Volunteer Firefighters.

A 54-year-old woman presented with a hematoma on her scalp. A 62-year-old man complained of pain in his arm and a girl in her 20s suffered injuries to her hand.

The victims were then transported to Dr. Nelio Mendonca.

From Diário Notícias

I know many people tell me that the bus drivers go to fast, and if this is the case let’s hope it’s looked into. I don’t really use the buses, so I only go by what others tell me. I do know that there are hardly any accidents involving buses, so this must be a positive.

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Tobi Hughes

13 Responses

  1. As a frequent visiter to Madeira I must admit that the bus drivers do drive fast, but I have never felt unsafe on any bus. My wife, however, gets a bit nervous on some of the hill climbs, especially on the way up to Monte.

    1. It is mostly a matter of perception rather than actual speed. If you are sitting at the aft side with all the noise it gives the impression the bus is going much faster than it actually is. Going at 30km/h with a sudden break due to unexpected bump is enough to knock some passengers down and cause injuries and 30 km/h is well below the speed limit.

  2. I think the driver was caught out because the speed bump is new. Also I do not think there is any warning sign.
    I use this route for more than 4 years both on the bus and driving my car. It caught me out a couple of times.
    The main issue is that more and more the busses are overcrowded. If you are standing and the bus has to brake, for whatever reason, you will be thrown to the floor or into the bus seating. It’s the law of physics.

  3. We’ve used the buses every time we’ve been on the island both long distance and the Horarios. Never once did we feel unsafe. I particularly admire the drivers of the Horarios the way they handle the buses on the narrow windy streets around Funchal.

  5. I am waiting for the standard question: who is paying for the rescue? I hope it´s the passengers…

  6. It’s not uncommon in Madeira for the bus drivers to have a beer break rather than a coffee one.

    1. Jen if you have proof then you should contact the police and the bus company with the evidence. Otherwise don’t make such accusations. I have driven buses for over 40 yrs and been a manager for nearly 30, my staff are drink and drug tested daily and are subject to instant dismissal if they fail. The problem I encounter on the yellow buses, is the overcrowding at certain times, but I simpify with the drivers trying to get people home after work along with the many tourists. Certain routes namely the verdi line, 1,2 and 4 could do with additional peak time vehicles between the centre and Forum shopping.

      1. I wholeheartedly agree about the overcrowding on lines 1, 2 & 4 also 24. It’s not only at peak times. More and more it’s throughout the day.

  7. I have always maintained that speed bumps are dangerous and should be outlawed.

  8. I use the buses all the time, as parking in Funchal is so expensive, on many occasions I have been on a bus where the driver thinks he must be in Grand Prix, i was on one a while back when a driver nearly ran over some tourists on the zebra crossing outside the savoy, the other thing to point out is that they are supposed to wait for you to be seated or safely standing with support before departing, on at least 3 occasions I have nearly fallen due to this, I am not suggesting that all drivers are the same but there is a lot that lack the patience to be a so called professional driver, after all we live in a community with a lot of elderly people

  9. I’ve had the same experience as you, Michael. A lot of these bus drivers drive recklessly. I can’t believe they don’t have trackers on these buses to monitor the speed limits of these drivers.

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