Motorcoach Fire Safety Analysis: The Causes, Frequency, and Severity of Motorcoach Fires in the United States

This study collects and analyzes information from government, industry, and media sources on the causes, frequency, and severity of motorcoach fires in the United States, and identifies potential risk reduction measures. Volpe Center analysts only considered fires that were mechanical or electrical in origin, and that were neither the result of a collision nor arson. This study establishes an integrated incident database, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of risk trends and patterns, and provides recommendations that could result in fewer motorcoach fires and, in turn, safer roads and lives saved. Some of the key findings from the study include: motorcoach fires have occurred with an approximate frequency of 160 per year; although a single catastrophic motorcoach fire resulted in 23 fatalities and 15 injuries, approximately 95 percent of the reported fires over the study period resulted in no direct injuries and fatalities; the most frequently identified location of fire origin was the engine compartment, followed closely by wheel wells; the most frequently specified points of ignition were the brakes, turbocharger, tires, electrical system, and wheel/hub bearings; and the frequency of fires on motorcoaches of model years 1998–2002 relative to older models was disproportionately greater than their relative populations.

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• Summary URL:
  http://www.volpe.dot.gov/noteworthy/2012/tspifv.html
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/9670
• Corporate Authors:

  Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Meltzer, Neil R
  • Ayres, Gregory
  • Truong, Minh
• Conference:
  • FIVE (Fires in Vehicles) 2012
  • Location: Chicago IL, United States
  • Date: 2012-9-27 to 2012-9-28
• Publication Date: 2012

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 12p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buses; Fire causes; Motor carriers; Passenger transportation; Risk analysis; Vehicle fires; Vehicle safety
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; I80: Accident Studies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01454128
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 15 2012 2:01PM