Bus drivers in Leuven demand safety measures after latest severe accident at station: 'Waiting for the next victim'

Bus drivers in Leuven, Belgium, are calling for safety improvements at the city's main bus station following a serious accident where a 75-year-old man was struck by a bus. The incident, which occurred on a pedestrian crossing near the station, has intensified concerns among drivers about the station's design and the inherent dangers of operating in such a busy environment.

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Every driver has had multiple near-accidents.

Drivers describe the station, located near Martelarenplein, as the busiest in Belgium. During holidays, it serves approximately 30,000 commuters daily, a number that swells to 45,000 during the academic year. City line drivers stop at the station about eight times a day. "It's incredible that it doesn't go wrong more often," one local café owner remarked, reflecting the general sentiment.

Bus drivers like Mark and Benny shared their experiences, detailing numerous near-misses. They attribute these incidents to passengers rushing to catch their buses, not looking when crossing, and the general complexity of navigating large vehicles in tight spaces. "Every driver has had multiple near-accidents," Benny stated. "People are so rushed to catch their bus that they don't look when crossing, sometimes right in front of your bus. Then you hold your breath, because a bus weighing over 10 tons has a much longer braking distance than a car."

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People are so rushed to catch their bus that they don't look when crossing, sometimes right in front of your bus. Then you hold your breath, because a bus weighing over 10 tons has a much longer braking distance than a car.

Drivers argue that the station's layout, established around the turn of the millennium, does not adequately accommodate the current volume of traffic and passengers. They believe the design creates a "false sense of security" for pedestrians using the green crossing zones. "The current design would be fine in a small town in southern Spain, but not here," said Benny. "Too busy, too many bus movements, too little space. When the model was presented, every bus driver knew: this is an accident waiting to happen. But the architects and politicians didn't listen because prestigious buildings bring more profit."

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The current design would be fine in a small town in southern Spain, but not here. Too busy, too many bus movements, too little space.