[pudarsanketh]

Extremely sad to know that Ranjith Ballal of RAC Koramangala passed away near trasi in an accident

https://www.daijiworld.com/news/news...newsID=1251881

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by pudarsanketh

Extremely sad to know that Ranjith Ballal of RAC Koramangala passed away near trasi in an accident

https://www.daijiworld.com/news/news...newsID=1251881

Quite sad and unfortunate way to pass away for someone who loves automobiles, rides and rally’s.

The image shows a two way traffic on one side of the divider of the highway. Why is it and why the other side of the divider is not used any idea? Was this two way traffic on one side any reason for the accident?

[binand]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

The image shows a two way traffic on one side of the divider of the highway. Why is it and why the other side of the divider is not used any idea?

This could be the reason.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...le68919425.ece

[NomadSK]

The electric bus whizzed past several shops- running on route number 332 - accelerated uncontrollably and hit about two dozen vehicles on the way, including auto-rickshaws, two-wheelers, and a police jeep.

Once upon a time BEST buses had the best safety records on Mumbai roads. But the video shows the bus going pretty fast in some narrow lane. Sad some innocent lives are snuffed. RIP.

The Olectra bus is registered in the name of a company called EVEY Trans and has been taken on a wet lease by the BEST. An official said the drivers of such buses are supplied by the private operators.

The driver of the public bus has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide. But what driver could have done, if it was some design issue.

LINK

[rahulk2510]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

The electric bus whizzed past several shops- running on route number 332 - accelerated uncontrollably and hit about two dozen vehicles on the way, including auto-rickshaws, two-wheelers, and a police jeep.

Once upon a time BEST buses had the best safety records on Mumbai roads. But the video shows the bus going pretty fast in some narrow lane.

The Olectra bus is registered in the name of a company called EVEY Trans and has been taken on a wet lease by the BEST. An official said the drivers of such buses are supplied by the private operators.

The driver of the public bus has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide. But what driver could have done, if it was some design issue.


LINK

I think the BEST drivers driving Electric buses don't hold back on to their horses. In fact even now buses running on CNG/ diesel are driven a little slow. Plus no noise on EV buses create a deadly combination. I have experienced this many times when you do not even realize that a huge EV bus has passed by next to you. High time that there is a fixed upper speed limit to max 30-40 kmph.

Also BEST drivers are now the worst ever in terms of following road traffic. They break signals, change lanes, speed up recklessly with contempt. The traffic police also don't pull them back.

All in all, Mumbai road traffic is going down the drain.

Sorry for the banter.

[RM Motorsports]

Originally Posted by rahulk2510

All in all, Mumbai road traffic is going down the drain.

Sorry for the banter.

Totally agree with you. There is no disciplined driving on Mumbai roads any more. Especially bikers ( most cases the delivery boys), autorickshaws in suburbs and BEST buses too.

Regarding the BEST bus incident, usual cover-up will be brake failure. But I often travel in these new electric buses since at times they are quite cheap and convenient, but I have noticed these buses are driven very very rashly. These buses are very powerful compared to CNG / Diesel buses. Also without any gears to change I have often noticed drivers with one hand on steering and mobile phone in another hand.

I have clicked photos and tweeted also but to no avail. With vehicles increasing every day on the roads, its just up to us to be cautious and careful. Rest is just how LUCKY / UNLUCKY you are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-JhjejWz_Q

[IamNikhil]

Regarding the BEST bus issue at Kurla, Mumbai... It has come to light that the driver in question was deployed on an electric bus without adequate training; apparently since just over a week before this incident.

From personal experience of traveling in BEST buses since decades now, have realised that majority of the drivers are used to the rough old buses and are yet to get accustomed to the new-age smooth transmission of electric buses that glide along.

From the preliminary medical tests done on the driver post the incident, it has become clear that he was neither drunk nor suffering from any illness.

Let's wait for the entire investigation to be complete so more facts will come to light regarding what exactly led to this tragedy.

The death toll from this incident has now climbed to 7 people and around 45 people injured in all, many under critical care.

[Rodie09]

If the driver was neither drunk and nor having any medical conditions, then to me it feels like one of the below:

1. Something wrong with the bus: Any driver who has some experience, electric or otherwise, in good health condition, can bring the vehicle to stop by instinctively pressing brakes. The bus cannot go on for so long (as in this case) with a sane driver not doing anything to stop it. Can be possible brake failure (?). These are machines after all. I am assuming there is no deliberate destruction angle as was in Pune bus driver's case few years back.

2. The drivers switching from manual to auto (electric included) do mix up in pedals. But usually this results in an abrupt stop rather than an uncontrolled acceleration. So, I find this to be a low probability scenario. I don't think this is one of those cases of pressing the accelerator instead of brake.

Let's see what the driver has to say and what the investigators find.

[NomadSK]

Sanjay More (43), the driver of the ill-fated BEST bus involved in Monday evening's deadly crash in Kurla, has claimed that he was not comfortable with the automatic transmission of the electric AC bus.

During questioning, the driver revealed that he had been assigned the automatic bus on December 1, having previously driven a manual transmission bus for a private contractor.

Sanjay admitted that he was uncomfortable with the automatic vehicle, which doesn’t have a clutch, and suggested that he may have become confused while driving.

Going by the article, it shows the driver of the public transport are not trained to drive such electric/AT busses. Can we arrest the contractor and some BEST employees for such negligence.

LINK

[humyum]

I saw the Best Bus video on twitter, looks like he was accelerating when he started the HIT.

Maybe its the manual guy driving an Automatic thing with him hitting the accelerator in panic?

[noopster]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

Sanjay admitted that he was uncomfortable with the automatic vehicle, which doesn’t have a clutch, and suggested that he may have become confused while driving.

Going by the article, it shows the driver of the public transport are not trained to drive such electric/AT busses. Can we arrest the contractor and some BEST employees for such negligence.

LINK

This is stupid. Any good driver can readjust from Manual to Automatic transmission with a basic knowledge of how each is different to operate. What “training” has each of us here who have migrated from manual to mostly AT over the years received when we made the switch?

There is something else going on here: guy probably turned up drunk for duty or, like a similar case in Pune a few years ago, lost his mental balance and snapped.

[ssjr0498]

Ohh my goodness! Just stumbled upon this! I knew him personally. God give his family all the strength to cope with this loss! RIP Ranjith!

Originally Posted by balenoed_

Quite sad and unfortunate way to pass away for someone who loves automobiles, rides and rally’s.

The image shows a two way traffic on one side of the divider of the highway. Why is it and why the other side of the divider is not used any idea? Was this two way traffic on one side any reason for the accident?


Attachment 2695378

Attachment 2695382

[sarathlal]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

Sanjay admitted that he was uncomfortable with the automatic vehicle, which doesn’t have a clutch, and suggested that he may have become confused while driving.

This appears to be a bogus explanation. Being a public transport vehicle driver is not a trivial responsibility that can be so carelessly attributed.

Originally Posted by noopster

This is stupid. Any good driver can readjust from Manual to Automatic transmission with a basic knowledge of how each is different to operate.

Correct.
For that matter, it's not even that difficult to adjust to a right hand drive vehicle from a left hand drive vehicle.

Irrespective of the mode of transmission, the accelerator and brake are not changing or going anywhere.

[NomadSK]

Originally Posted by noopster

This is stupid.

It is indeed stupid and humans do stupidity, 90% of this thread or may be more highlights that.

Any good driver can readjust from Manual to Automatic transmission with a basic knowledge of how each is different to operate. What “training” has each of us here who have migrated from manual to mostly AT over the years received when we made the switch?

I beg to differ a bit. We cannot judge everyone from our perspective. I’m no way defending the driver, but if he has to drive a public transport, it’s the duty of the responsible authorities to make sure he’s the right one to do so. Specially when public lives are at risk. Our drivers of bus fleet go under a month of training and get a driving card in addition to their DL’s, before they are allowed to do their jobs.

There is something else going on here: guy probably turned up drunk for duty or,

I’m sure this would be the first thing authorities would have done to check his blood of any alcohol or drugs, because that’s what our employer does when a motor vehicle incident is reported.

Originally Posted by sarathlal

This appears to be a bogus explanation. Being a public transport vehicle driver is not a trivial responsibility that can be so carelessly attributed.

It can be bogus, but why would he take the blame on himself, that’s the question to ask. He could simply escape under the purview of mechanical fault and let authorities find one. Hence I won’t rule out this possibility. Clearly shows weak or absent SOP’s.

Irrespective of the mode of transmission, the accelerator and brake are not changing or going anywhere.

A relatively new driver, In our township while reversing ran over a kid, in a panic situation she pressed the accelerator instead of brakes, that’s what the investigation report came up, a young soul was lost and she’s living a regretful life since. So you never know what happens during a brain fade moment.

Oh I would have never done this, doesn’t speak that someone else would not do the same thing.

[Thad E Ginathom]

I haven't touched a car with with AT for nearly twenty years. Could I drive one tomorrow? Sure, I could. But I would have a few confused moments for a day or three. Hopefully no-one would come to harm because of my confused moments in my car. For starters, I don't usually have more than one passenger.

That is not what is wanted of a public-transport driver. I don't need "training." They do. Added to which, they cannot take the vehicle out for trips just to get used to it. Which, I suppose is another word for training/

And those of us who say we can adjust easily should try to remember the first time. I don't even remember it at all now, but I am sure it was tougher than any of numerous times I subsequently switched MT/AT/MT.

I've never driven an electric vehicle. When that opportunity comes, I'll adjust. But how how that change will be, first time?