The Federal Transit Administration estimates that transit crashes and their associated losses account for more than $800 million per year in the U.S., a figure roughly equivalent to 40% more than the entire industry's yearly new bus purchasing budget. If these costs were added to each bus, they would result in a yearly increase or "crash tax" of more than $15,000 per bus. For most transit agencies bus accident costs are borne by the communities they serve. In-vehicle automatic crash notification systems can offer numerous benefits relatively inexpensively when combined with the operational systems many transit agencies are already purchasing. Such an approach would offer the desirable features of a sophisticated crash notification system, yet would add very little dedicated equipment or cost. Additionally, monitored crashes offer valuable data providing bus designers with needed insight into vehicle design improvements.
Samenvatting