SAN ANTONIO – VIA Metropolitan Transit has recorded at least four incidents in the last year where vehicles have been struck by buses after turning right in front of the buses.
The transit company said some drivers simply do not obey the law.
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One happened on a sunny day in April as a VIA bus made its way down Market Street.
The driver hugged the right-hand lane when suddenly, at the intersection of Presa Street, a small, white car made a sudden right turn in front of the moving bus.
The bus struck the car and bus surveillance video showed that passengers lurched forward.
There was damage to the bus and car and everyone was inconvenienced.
This is just one instance of a driver failing to observe a warning sign on the back of all buses that says it is illegal to make a right turn in front of buses.
Another accident happened when a bus pulled forward after making a stop near the courthouse on Dolorosa.
That is when a Ford Explorer made a right turn into a drop off area.
Usually accidents caused by vehicles turning right in front of buses occurs when the buses are stopped.
One example is an accident that happened on a wet April day on Dolorosa.
A pickup truck made a wide right turn from two lanes over just as the bus was beginning to leave a stop.
Accidents such as these are not just in the downtown area.
Back in February, a VIA bus was travelling along the IH-10 access road near UTSA Boulevard when a silver Ford F-150 exited the freeway and made a sharp right turn right in front of the bus.
A crash resulted.
Alva Carrasco, VIA's vice president of transportation, said these types of accident occur frequently.
"Most of the time, they're minor accidents, but it's a waste of time for all the commuters," Carrasco said.
Bus passengers have experienced them before as well,
Bus rider Diana Uriegas said it is dangerous on the bus when the driver slams on the brakes.
"There was this lady that was pregnant and she rolled over like that," Uriegas said.
Carrasco said if drivers would just pay attention to a little sign, many crashes could be avoided.
VIA operates more than 7,000 bus stops along 91 bus lines and carried more than 45 million passengers a year at last report.
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