The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced that seat belts will be required for new tour buses and buses that provide service between cities beginning in 2016. The new rule requires lap and shoulder seat belts be provided for each passenger and driver seat on new motorcoaches and other large buses. According to the NHTSA, this will greatly enhance the safety of these vehicles, reducing the risk of fatalities and serious injuries in accidents. According to the NHTSA, on average 21 people are killed and over 7,900 are injured in motorcoach and large bus accidents. Implementing this new rule requiring seat belts in these motorcoaches and large buses will greatly reduce these numbers and make traveling in these vehicles much safer.
David Strickland, NHTSA Administrator, states
While travel on motorcoaches is overall a safe form of transportation, when accidents do occur, there is the potential for a greater number of deaths and serious injuries due to the number of occupants and high speeds at which the vehicles are traveling. Adding seat belts to motorcoaches increases safety for all passengers and drivers, especially in the event of a rollover crash.
Hopefully with these new changes and rules, parents can feel comfortable sending their children to school on the bus. People can feel more secure with general travel by bus. But if you or a loved one has been in a bus accident, contact our experienced personal injury attorneys at Power Rogers We can help clients file the appropriate claims and suits necessary to receive the retribution they deserve. Don’t allow careless injuries to go unheeded. Contact us today and schedule a consultation.