Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Following an accident in which a coach was blown off the road, injuring several passengers, Maritime Bus owner Mike Cassidy considers seat belts.

Will install seat belts on all of its motorcoaches by Spring 2013; add a driving simulator; conduct extensive background checks covering national and local databases and pre-employment personality testing to ensure compatibility with corporate values; and add a customer service training department.

The first coach, featuring the company’s signature splashy rainbow graphic against a deep pink body, joined the fleet in May. The second J4500, a white one, arrived in early June. A third, painted gray, is expected in late June.

The U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade held a hearing designed to learn the views of the Administration and other stakeholders considering the vehicle safety provisions included in the House and Senate highway bills.

Efforts to enhance the safety of its campus shuttle system in the wake of a recent fatal accident is on track, with 39 vehicles equipped with retractable seat belts and the remainder to be completed by month's end.

Senate legislation for bus safety includes mandates for seat belts and stronger roofs to reduce rollover fatalities.

Acting ahead of NHTSA’s proposal requiring seat belts for each passenger in new coaches, the carrier is making shoulder and lap belts part of all its new bus purchases.

The pair planned on making the announcement Wednesday, which was the fourth anniversary of the Bluffton (Ohio) University baseball team bus crash that killed seven.

In addition to a felony charge for driving while intoxicated, the driver, Yasushi Mikuni, also faces 10 other felony charges of operating a vehicle negligently causing death or injury and is also being held on logbook and lane-change violations, both misdemeanors.

The new 55-passenger coaches have the Angel Trax security monitoring system; DriveCam; wood grain flooring; and Amaya passenger seats custom built to Venture's specification, which includes three-point seat belts and other luxury and safety options.