We have reported in these columns on the accident that occurred in mid-April on the Grand-Place in Nivelles. One Saturday morning, a market day when cars cannot access all areas of the hyper-centre, a TEC bus had passed through the “Union” bar of the square, which it could do on condition that the retractable bollards installed in the roadway are lowered to ground level. But there had been a hiccup, and a bollard had been ripped off by the bus, ripping open the vehicle’s tank.
The incident did not injure anyone but fuel spilled onto the road and into the sewer system; the firefighters intervened. At the municipal council, the opposition PluS had questioned the mayor about this potential terminal problem, but Pierre Huart had indicated that he had called the company that installed the device the same day. She assured him that it is impossible for the bollard to rise while the bus was passing, thus implying human error.
The problem went up to the Walloon Parliament where the Perwézian deputy André Antoine (LE) has just asked a written question on the subject to the Minister in charge of mobility, Philippe Henry (Ecolo). The idea was in particular to know where the investigation is, how much the damage is and who will pay for it.
“OTW confirms driver version”
“When the driver entered the roundabout at the exit of the Grand-Place, suddenly, the terminals were raised at the level of the first third of the bus says the Minister in his response. The technical management of the Transport Operator of Wallonia (OTW) confirms, after careful examination of the bus in its workshops, the version of the driver. An accident report has been drawn up between the TEC BW and the City of Nivelles in order to follow up on the file with the insurance companies. […]. As for the system of removable terminals on the Grand-Place of Nivelles, it was set up by the Commune. In general, the TEC currently favors the placement of barriers to that of removable bollards in bus stations, in order to avoid this type of incident.
Made aware of this response, the mayor, Pierre Huart, is surprised not to have been informed by the TEC of these latest developments. For him, the retractable bollards only being used on Saturday mornings, this device remains more practical than barriers. For the rest, the file is in the hands of the insurance companies…