From Editor: This guest post submitted by Aaron Garcia
Did you know that the US Government has published statistics which indicate that buses and coaches are the safest mode of road transport? (0.4 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, compared to cars where the rate is 3.5 times higher.
Even though they share the roads with other users, it has been determined that they have the safety level of trains. These findings are borne out by those from countries such as Australia and Germany, which indicate a lower accident fatality rate in buses than in any other form of land transport.
But most buses don’t have safety belts for passengers. How can they still be safe??
It’s all a matter of how they are built. All the seats on a bus are much higher than any you would find in a car or even an SUV. This means that passengers are seated higher than the point of any conceivable impact. Besides this, motor coach seats are compartmentalized, which means that each seat is like a padded roll cage and will offer the protection needed by passengers in the event of a collision.
But safety in buses is not just about the structure of the vehicle. It also has much to do with the expertise of the drivers. Unlike the drivers of other motor vehicles, professional bus drivers are bound by law to undergo ongoing training and to pass rigorous practical and theoretical testing. They all have to pass an individual medical examination and undertake first aid training to assist passengers in the event of an emergency.
All registered charter bus companies are expected to employ drivers who carry Commercial Driver’s Licenses. Drivers are monitored by safety directors and are not permitted to drive for a period of longer than 10 hours before changing shifts. Vehicles are regularly maintained and must meet federal standards of safety.So, I reckon you can safely undertake your next holiday, sport or business road trip in the professional care of a charter bus company. Let them take care of the road, while you plan what you are going to do when you reach your destination.
About the Author: Aaron Garcia is a travel enthusiast who has been to destinations all over the world. Chicago is one of his favorite destinations in the US, and he tries to use bus transportation to and from O’Hare Airport whenever possible.