In late November, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ruled that lap and shoulder belts are now required to be worn by occupants on new motorcoaches and other large buses. The recent ruling is expected to significantly reduce the risk of serious injuries and fatalities in frontal crashes and the risk of passenger ejection in rollover accidents.
Approximately 7,934 motorcoach occupants are injured and 21 killed annually. Making safety belts a requirement is projected to "reduce fatalities by up to 44 percent and reduce the number of moderate to severe injuries by up to 45 percent," according to the NHTSA.
This ruling only applies to new over-the-road buses and to other types of new buses with a gross vehicle weight of great than 26,000 pounds. Transit buses and school buses are exempt. Buses manufactured in November of 2016 will be required to be equipped with safety belts for all occupants.
If you have been involved in an auto accident, contact Orlando Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton at 888-293-1144 or at sextonlaw.com to ensure that your rights are protected.
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