WHEREAS, SEPTA bus drivers have warned that side mirrors mounted on the buses are so big that they create dangerous blind spots; and
WHEREAS, Sheena White was crossing the street at the corner of 15th Street and Washington Avenue and was struck by a turning bus on September 26, 2014; and
WHEREAS, SEPTA has paid out $3.3 million for bus collisions since January of 2011; and
WHEREAS, There were three pedestrians killed in 63 accidents with SEPTA buses in 2012; and
WHEREAS, From 2000 through 2011, the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration has reported 462 pedestrians were killed by transit buses nationwide; and
WHEREAS, The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority won a national safety award after shifting bus mirrors, improving driver training, and equipping buses with features designed to improve safety, which resulted in no pedestrian related accidents between March 2009 and January 2011; and
WHEREAS, SEPTA operators can lose sight of a pedestrian for approximately 2 seconds because of the placement of side mirrors; and
WHEREAS, SEPTA operators can have their line of sight of up to 17 feet of crosswalk blocked when making a left turn due to the placement of side mirrors; and
WHEREAS, Public safety is of utmost importance for bus drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and others using the public streets in Philadelphia; now therefore,
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA hereby authorizes City Council's Committees on Transportation and Public Utilities and Public Safety to hold joint hearings concerning side mirror placement on SEPTA buses in Philadelphia.
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