MBTA Launches Bus Driver Fatigue Campaign

The MBTA has launched a fatigue awareness campaign for its bus operators following a spike in dangerous incidents on its bus network across Greater Boston.

In March, GBH reported that an MBTA bus crashed into parked cars and two homes in Medford. The accident took place at the intersection of Madison Street and Playstead Road before 2 a.m. on a Sunday.

T Chief Safety Officer Tim Lesniak said the bus operator showed signs of drowsiness or sleepiness before the incident. Transit police reported that the driver has been suspended and faces potential criminal charges. The incident is under investigation.

The Medford bus crash accounted for one of the 15 major safety events on the bus network in March, Lesniak reported during an MBTA Board meeting on Thursday, April 30. These incidents included eight collisions (five with vehicles, two with pedestrians, and one with a home), marking a 77% increase compared to the previous year.

MBTA officials stressed that while these investigations are ongoing, they have enacted a driver fatigue campaign to address immediate concerns and protect riders and operators. Throughout April, T officials visited every MBTA garage and spoke with approximately 750 drivers about fatigue hazards and mitigation strategies. According to GBH, officials “provided resources for employees on where to go and what to do should they be experiencing fatigue and need to flag it to their supervisor.”

Lesniak said the transit agency sent an email briefing to all employees on fatigue awareness and how to manage fatigue at work.

Despite the jump in incidents on the MBTA bus network, officials stressed that they have made considerable safety improvements on the subway and trolley systems. The number of safety incidents has declined over the past several years due to the continued safety improvements.