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fiveforks
Active Member
United States
29 Posts |
 Posted - 12/31/2007 : 12:27:46 PM
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| Is there a topic on why school buses (Thomas RE/HDX in particular) don't have driver air bags??? Thanks! |
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NewBee Driver
Senior Member
USA
191 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2007 : 3:44:27 PM
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Why only on transit busses? Airbags should be standard on any bus/medium duty truck chassis. The only one i believe has them is the Volvo chassis. There is such a debate over seatbelts for the kids (lets leave that in the topics already started) but what about the driver... In any accident severe enough that the students would need seatbelts, the driver is going to be banged up pretty bad. As the only adult that is sure to be there, shouldnt manufacturers also do everything they can (airbags) to make sure that the driver is able to perform the evacuation and other emergency requirements that would be required of him/her in the event of such an emergency?
Just my opinion and i look forward to hearing others on the topic. |
Driving Seattle To School - And Loving It!! |
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Kodie
Top Member
United States
2028 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2007 : 5:20:22 PM
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quote:
Yes, you are true but transits should require them the most.
Example:
http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/52647275.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1939847EC77F5F8D1CE59883DF54C150898A40A659CEC4C8CB6
http://publicsafety.com/article/photos/1164050383541_bus%20wreck1.jpg
I just don't understand why when you drive a transit, you are right up against the window. It would be nice if they look more at the driver's safety instead of the children.
Um.. I disagree with you FS guy. The students really are the most important part and the driver should recieve equal attention to safety not one more than another. And that second link... that is beyond airbag, an airbag wouldnt help that driver to much.
I think all vehicles should have air bags for the driver on the driver side window, by the pedals and steering wheel, I dont see why they dont. Transits are probably the least safe as far as the driver safety because of the large windshield. |
Edited by - Kodie on 12/31/2007 6:05:07 PM |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4544 Posts |
Posted - 01/01/2008 : 06:40:36 AM
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What on earth did that Thomas pusher hit???? Is that the VA bus vs. trash truck's dumpter hook bars?
As for the secong link...that is an IC CE that nose dived off an overpass last year...not transit. Ironically the bus driver survived because he was not wearing his seatbelt. He was ejected though the bus's doors before it went over (they found him on top of the overpass). |
Edited by - Thomasbus24 on 01/01/2008 06:42:03 AM |
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Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
4177 Posts |
Posted - 01/01/2008 : 09:36:38 AM
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| In neither of those accidents would an air bag likely have provided help. Air bags are meant to keep you in your seating position (with the aid of the seat belt of course) and keep YOU from hitting the interior components of the vehicle. They're not meant to protect you from intruding objects. I think air bags would be good all around the bus, esspecially to prevent ejections. However, they have to be designed to work with the area in which the air bag will deploy. In cars, they use the dashboard, windsheild, etc. to deploy properly. (If you have a botched windsheild replacement, you can watch that thing explode from the vehicle if the air bag deploys.) The school bus manufacturers are probably capable of such design work, but this would be the same reason why they don't exists in type As where a standard van chassis would likely contain an air bag already. ...the bus manufacturers probably modify the drivers area, so the engineering that goes into the air bag by the van manufacturer would no longer be suitable. |
Mike's Bus Yard - http://buses.zwebpages.com - Since 1999
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Peter
Top Member
USA
1057 Posts |
Posted - 01/01/2008 : 2:45:03 PM
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| I know of a few school buses with driver air bags. You hear them on the radio ALL the time! |
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Nick
Advanced Member
USA
333 Posts |
Posted - 01/01/2008 : 3:07:04 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Peter
I know of a few school buses with driver air bags. You hear them on the radio ALL the time!
Heh, took a couple seconds to figure that one out... |
IC the future, and it is bright. |
Edited by - Nick on 01/01/2008 3:07:37 PM |
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Kodie
Top Member
United States
2028 Posts |
Posted - 01/01/2008 : 3:52:46 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by the First Student guy
Yes, I know my 2 links were not savable with an air bag, but I wanted to show you haw bad an accident can be. Yes, I think that the children should have seat belts, but it can't happen easily. The owners of a bus copany would either have to retrofit all of their buses, or buy bigger buses with seat belts. In a seat, you can fit 3 elementary children, maybe even middle school. 2 for high school. Now, if you add seat belts, you would only be able to fit 2 to a seat. Making the bus to have to be longer to fit 77 pass. (conventional) If you try to do that, then the convenstional would have to be larger.
This video has a point, but I don't think much will change.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsbPevfEtrw
Even though the bus driver wasn't hurt, it would have been better if there was an air bag in the steering wheel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmc7qoIaAZg
If I remember correctly I think someone developed a seat with seat belts that can fit 3 elementary students and 2 high school students. I think I saw it in the SBF magazine. |
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NathanW
Advanced Member
United States
313 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2008 : 5:01:11 PM
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None of the school busses I drive have airbags. The small transit bus I drive does have an airbag, however, the trolley I drive doesn't have one, and only has a lap belt at that.
Peter...Love the joke. |
Nathan--Driver Extraordinaire |
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bluebirdvision
Top Member
USA
1081 Posts |
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Kodie
Top Member
United States
2028 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2008 : 6:20:10 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Peter
I know of a few school buses with driver air bags. You hear them on the radio ALL the time!
Am I the only idiot who cant figure that out? I have been looking at it for 3 days. |
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BBInt.10
Top Member
USA
1042 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2008 : 7:54:36 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by IC Kodie
quote:
Originally posted by Peter
I know of a few school buses with driver air bags. You hear them on the radio ALL the time!
Am I the only idiot who cant figure that out? I have been looking at it for 3 days.
You don't get it because you're not a bus driver yet. What he's getting at is drivers who talk over the 2-way radio waaaay too much. It's very irritating. He is referring to them as "bags of wind". |
If all your problems are behind you... you must be a school bus driver. |
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mat541mp
Senior Member
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2008 : 8:12:55 PM
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Wow...3 people to figure out a joke. Geez...how sad.
mat |
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Kodie
Top Member
United States
2028 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2008 : 9:40:24 PM
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Thanks BBInt. Our TD does not allow extra chatter, it would annoy me too because our driver keeps the 2 way volume up so loud when they do talk it pierces your ears.
As far as air bags go... has anyone on here asked Thomas, BB, IC etc. why they dont use air bags? An air bag on the IC RE, or FE would require a change to the steering wheel design, and alot of you would be happy for that. |
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Topic |
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School Bus Airbags
