Politics & Government

Want to Survive a Crash Like This? NHTSA Requiring Seat Belts

Measure is aimed to reduce injuries and fatalities in crashes.

By Liz Taurasi

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced new rules requiring seatbelts in all new commercial buses -- an announcement that comes after decades of work by safety advocates.

The final rule came Wednesday by the agency, requiring all newly manufactured buses to be equipped with lap and shoulder belts for each driver and passenger seat, beginning November 2016. The rule does not apply to school buses or city transit buses.

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On average, 21 passengers are killed and more than 7,900 injured annually in motorcoach and large bus crashes, according to the NHTSA. Requiring seat belts could reduce fatalities by up to 44 percent and reduce the number of moderate to severe injuries by up to 45 percent.

According to a recent NBC News report, 700 million passengers in the United States travel by bus annually, mostly senior citizens and children. And from 2000 to 2009, there were 209 deaths from passengers involved in bus crashes.

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In a statement released Wednesday, officials say the new rule makes the vehicles safer by significantly reducing the risk of fatalities and serious injuries in crashes.

"Safety is our highest priority and we are committed to reducing the number of deaths and injuries on our roadways," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in the statement. "Today's rule is a significant step forward in our efforts to improve motorcoach safety."

"While travel on motorcoaches is overall a safe form of transportation, when accidents do occur, there is the potential for a greater number of deaths and serious injuries due to the number of occupants and high speeds at which the vehicles are traveling," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "Adding seat belts to motorcoaches increases safety for all passengers and drivers, especially in the event of a rollover crash."

The NHTSA says manufacturers have already independently started installing seat belts on new buses.


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