Commercial buses are a common mode of transportation for millions of people around the world.  In order to keep passengers safe in transit and while entering and exiting the buses the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Agency has created a document called Bus and Passenger Accident Prevention.

The document is intended to be a resource for specialized, rural and urban transit operators.  It guides transit systems through several important safety factors such as creating an accident prevention program, the role of employees and patrons, accident prevention during bus procurement, and bus procedures.

Six to eight percent of all non-collision accidents happen while patrons are exiting or entering the bus.  This number can be minimized if safety in the entrances and exits is taken into consideration during the procurement phase of manufacturing a bus.  The U.S. Dept of Transportation gives suggestions:

1.)    Stairwell:

1. The materials used on the stair tread should be slip resistant when wet or dry.  A simple yellow paint strip at the edge of the stair helps assist in foot placement.  SLIPNOT Metal Safety Flooring provides safety treads that can be customized according to bus specifications.  ElDorado National used non-slip stairs with yellow edges on their commercial buses with great success.
2. Lighting should be at least of a 2 foot candle at the tread in order to help aid passengers in the dark.  Light must also be provided on the exterior.
3. The configuration, number and height of the stairs is an important safety factor.
4. Lift placement, configuration and selection should be considered when crating a safe riding experience for passengers with disabilities.

2.)    Handrails:

1. The shape and placement of handrails plays a part in the ease of entering and exiting a bus.  Placing a textured surface on the handrail significantly decreases the chance of hand slippage.  SLIPNOT also provides slip resistant handrails to aid in slip and fall prevention.

This document is a fantastic resource for any transit systems.  There is so much information included in this document that this blog barely scratches the surface.  By following the suggestions for accident prevention given by the U.S. Department of Transportation, bus safety can be easily implemented.

Bus and Passenger Accident Prevention. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Agency.  June 21, 2012. <http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/publications/safety/buspass/buspass.htm>