THE MEASURE OF A SAFER BUS

A SIGNIFICANT ADVANCE IN BUS DESIGN IS PRESENTED WHICH RECOMMENDS AN INCREASE IN SIX INCHES IN THE WIDTH OF THE BUS WITH A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN ACTUAL WEIGHT FOR A SAFER INTERCITY BUS. STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS MUST BE LIBERALIZED TO ALLOW THE INCREASE IN THE WIDTH AND AXLE WEIGHTS. WHEN A WIDER BUS IS BUILT IT CAN ALSO BE BUILT HIGHER. AS A RESULT, BOTH PASSENGERS AND DRIVER WILL BE RAISED ABOVE THE POINT OF MOST COLLISION IMPACT. RAISED DRIVER POSITION ALSO PROVIDES: BETTER VISIBILITY, GREATER SAFETY IN CASE OF HEAD-ON COLLISION, AND REDUCED ACCUMULATION OF ROAD SPLASH AND DIRT ON WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS IN WET WEATHER. EVEN THOUGH THE BUS IS HIGHER, IMPROVED RESISTANCE TO OVERTURNING AND EXCESS SIDE SWAY IS ACHIEVED BECAUSE THE CENTER OF GRAVITY IS VERY LOW. LARGER TIRES PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SAFE GUARDS: (1) GREATLY IMPROVED ROAD ADHESION, (2) BETTER STEERING CONTROL, (3) GREATER SKID RESISTANCE, AND (4) MORE EFFECTIVE BRAKING. LARGER WHEEL DIAMETER AND WIDTH MEAN GREATER BRAKE SHOE AREA. WIDER BRAKE DRUMS REDUCE HEAT BUILD-UP SO THAT EFFECTIVE BRAKING EFFORT IS MAINTAINED EVEN IN CONTINUOUS AND INTENSIVE APPLICATION. THE WIDENING OF THE BUS BY SIX INCHES RESULTS IN A SLIGHTLY WIDER CENTER ISLE, INCREASED HEAD ROOM, AND INCREASED SEAT WIDTH. THE ONLY ARGUMENTS ADVANCED IN OPPOSITION TO OPERATING WIDER AND HEAVIER BUSES ARE THOSE CONCERNED WITH LANE WIDTHS AND THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT APPLIED TO THE HIGHWAY SURFACE. HOWEVER, MORE THAN 85 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL VEHICLE MILES OPERATED BY INTERCITY CARRIERS ARE ON REGULAR ROUTES ON HIGHER TYPE ROADS THAT ARE ADEQUATE FOR THE PROPOSED WIDTH AND WEIGHT LIMITS.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Assoc Motor Bus Owners

  ,    
• Publication Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle load force; Brakes; Buses; Center of gravity; Comfort; Defects; Design; Drivers; Height; Intercity transportation; Passengers; Pavement distress; Pavements; Regulations; Shock resistance; Size; Skid resistance; Tires; Traffic lanes; Vision; Width
• Uncontrolled Terms: Impact strength
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver vision
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Law; Passenger Transportation; Pavements; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00223157
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 24 pp
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 1 1970 12:00AM