Motorcoach safety - NHTSA report

Motorcoach safety - NHTSA report< Roaming Times

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MOTORCOACH SAFETY
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Report

"Motorcoach transportation has been a safe form of
transportation in the United States"

Motorcoaches fall under the category of buses in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Buses typically provide one of the safest modes of transportation.

During the first 6 days of 2008 there were 4 major accidents. A bus in Utah careened off the road during this period and nine people died. A bus overturned in Texas and one person died. The other two major accidents involved a bus in North Carolina running down an embankment and a bus hitting a concrete wall in Florida. Eighty two people were injured.

But what about the other form of bus - the motorcoach? According to the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report (August 2007 - link to full report below)::

Motorcoach transportation has been a safe form of transportation in the United States. Over the past ten years (1996-2005) there have been 48 fatal motorcoach crashes. During this period, on average, 14 fatalities have occurred annually to occupants of motorcoaches in crash and rollover events, with about 2 of the fatalities being drivers. Approximately 29% of the fatal crashes resulted in rollover. Ejection of passengers from motorcoaches accounts for approximately 56% of passenger fatalities. Among all motorcoach crashes from 1996-2005, 65% were single vehicle events and involved running off the road, hitting roadside objects, or rolling over.

The report was generally favorable but 3 main recommendations were made:

ROOF STRENGTH: The NTSB has designated the improvement of roof strength in motorcoaches as one of its �Most Wanted� safety recommendations. Specifically, the NTSB recommends developing performance standards for motorcoach roof strength that provide maximum survival space for all seating positions. Furthermore, roof deformation may affect thestructural integrity surrounding the windows, and consequently reduce their effectiveness in preventing occupant ejection.
SEAT BELTS: Seat belts are another approach for potential improved motorcoach occupant protection in crashes. Installing seat belts would be the most direct method of retaining passengers within the seating compartment. Many of the fatal motorcoach crashes had fairly high accelerations where advanced glazing material and bonding may not necessarily have withstood the high accelerations. Seat belts could also potentially provide protection in multiple crash modes, including rollover, and prevent ejection.
FLAMMABILITY: Presently, fire protection safety is afforded to motorcoach occupants primarily through the requirements and test procedures specified in FMVSS No. 302, �Flammability ofinterior materials.� The standard was established in 1972 (with minor modifications in1975) and applies to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses. In addition to flammability of the interior components, it may be worthwhile to examine the flammability of exterior components. While fire mitigation for some components such as the tires may not be practicable, it is reasonable to ensure that any fires which do happen to initiate in the engine compartment or other external locations do not propagate too rapidly into the occupant compartment.

RoTi help:

National Highway Traffic Safety Admin website
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"Motorcoaches fall under the category of buses in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Buses typically provide one of the safest modes of transportation."

What do you think? - add your comments here

Readers' comments:
(Latest first)

Ric : The flammability test FMVSS 302 provides very little fire protection. It only tests materials placed horizontally and most of the materials that pass this test burn like crazy when placed vertically. That's why fires in vehicles are so severe even though all the materials used pass this test. Depsite what is said here this test appears to afford little fire safety to motorcoach occupants.

James : My concern is for the safety of school children on all night drives on tours for their school group. There have been several accidents within the past five years involving student groups and occuring during all night drives. I believe we need regulations to prohibit transporting school children on charter coaches between late evening (at least midnight) and 7:00 AM. If the group cannot afford the extra evenings hotel, maybe a shorter trip should be considered.

Dave Hughes : Short of buying a bus conversion for $1 million plus, consider a semi-monocoque chassis such as that built by Country Coach. Good compromise between cost and coach integrity.

Bluebird Bob : Buy an older Bluebird. Before slideouts, it had rollover fed rating (same as school busses). Everthing is bolted down. Wouldn't have any other rig.

Dutchboy : I purchased a new Monaco motorhome in 2001 to celebrate my early retirement. It spent a full year in warranty repair and never was fixed. Here are the safety items that Monaco missed in its construction: 1. The hydrallic levelers would not fully retract. 2. The couch was not bolted to the floor even though equipped with seat belts. 3. The water heater compartment allowed exhaust fumes to enter the coach. 4. Water leaks at numerous locations could have caused an electic short and fire damage. Monaco released a pilot production unit without disclosure to me or the dealer. This could have resulted in injury or death to me and my wife or those sharing the roadway with us. Shame on you, Monaco.

Kiwi : Why shouldn't passengers in buses be required to wear seat belts, just like you have to in aircraft. In my experience, a truck and an RV will not pull up as quickly as a motorcar. Its for that reason we allow a little extra space between the vehicle in front and ours. If it came to a vehicle verses RV crash, I'd rather be sitting in my RV thank you very much. Pets? Never even thought of it.

fredb : Air brakes are a great fail safe braking system with built in emergency braking but what about hydraulic brakes on heavy rigs? How do they provide equal fail safe braking?

Bob P. : I had what would have been a minor accident with a Damon escaper. I rear ended a ford F 150. He stopped suddenly and I had to make a panic stop. an unsecured recliner slid forward and impacted the copilots seat and if it had been a high impact accident I am quite sure it would have caused major injuries or death. I am posting this to alert any class A motor coaches against any unsecured furniture such as free standing dinettes and chairs. coffee tables ETC.

George Miklas : I have driven school busses, and Eagle, MCI, Prevost, and VanHool Busses (Motorcoahes). I think that my next motorcoach will not be one built by any of Indiana's cookiecutters, but will be a bus conversion having a passenger safety and rollover rating and a proven handle-ability

George Miklas : I agree with GentlemanGypsy's comment. I owned a 2000 Georgie Boy Pursuit, Ford F-53 chassis. After I bought it, I then realized that the front axle was loaded too close to its GAWR and that was with an otherwise empty coach. I installed Mor/Ryde rubber springs and Davis TruTrac on the front axle, Bilstein Shocks all around, and had a spring shop "level" the coach. Finally I had an acceptable ride, but it still had side-t-side sway which sometimes made steering a bear. Before selling it, I was looking into a Henderson Track Bar and Mor/Ryde rubber springs for the rear axle. Ford denied any connection to the issues I experienced saying that it is the body builder's responsibility to balance the load on the chassis. Georgie Boy denied responsibility saying that the GAWR was not exceeded. While that is true, the front axle weight was so close to GAWR, the front basement compartments were practically useless for storage of anything except air. After selling my motorcoach, I have chosen not to mix passenger safety with camping. Therefore, I went to a Ford E-350 Superduty Wagon for passenger safety, pulling a travel trailer for camping.

GentlemanGypsy : In my opinion, 99 percent of accidents are caused by operator error. I will say this: The "overhang" in front engine coaches makes for a very poor handling motor home. I spent a good deal of money trying to correct handling problems in my 36' Monaco. It was still a Bear to drive....

Phil Hickson : I usually feel more secure in my RV than I do in my car but you need to take precautions when you're traveling. I've gone off and forgotten my medications twice but fortunately Walgreens helped.

Jim : I wonder if they(NTSB) addressed objects comming loose and flying around the cabin in front end or roll-over crashes. My coach, a monaco, came with a lounge chair that has no way of securing. It just sits there along with its companion ottoman. I doubt we will ever see anyone put a $300,00 vehicle through the samee crash testing that they do to cars and trucks, but I bet the results would be very interesting.

Robert Calne : I've had 4 motorcoaches and never had a safety issue. I believe they're a very safe form of transport. I've had safety issue with one of my cars (brake failure) but never with a coach.

Robert Mitchell : I agree with all recommendations within the motorcoach industry. Roofs are ripping off and passengers are being ejected from them.