The Road Explorer - Fall 2012 - (Page 6) Explorer ROAD Managing Editor Ann Fairley ann@omca.com Editor Laura Huether laura@omca.com Publisher Robert Phillips Naylor Editor Leslee Masters leslee@naylor.com Project Manager Kim Davies Publication Director Meaghen Foden Marketing Erin Sevitz Sales Representatives Maria Antonation, Bill Biber, Megan Burns, Angela Caroyannis, Grandolf Cuvos, Candace Dyck, Tracy Goltsman, & Cheryll Oland Layout and Design Paramjeet Kaur the industryvoice Improving Coach Safety Is Everyone’s Business by Doug Switzer The Road Explorer is published three times per year by Naylor (Canada) Inc. 1630 Ness Avenue, Suite 300 Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3J 3X1 Tel: (800) 665-2456 Fax: (204) 947-2047 www.naylor.com for the Ontario Motor Coach Association 555 Burnhamthorpe Road Suite 505 Etobicoke, ON M9C2Y3 Tel: (416) 229-6622 Fax: (416) 229-6281 ©2012 Ontario Motor Coach Association. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the association. T The Ontario Motor Coach Association (OMCA) 555 Burnhamthorpe Road Suite 505 Etobicoke, ON M9C2Y3 Tel: (416) 229-6622 Fax: (416) 229-6281 www.omca.com MCC Calgary Office 1439 Renfrew Dr., NE Calgary, AB T2E 5J4 Tel: (403) 210-1054 MCC Toronto Office 555 Burnhamthorpe Road Suite 505 Etobicoke, ON M9C2Y3 Tel: (416) 229-9305 Fax: (416) 229-6281 www.omca.com MCC Fredericton Office 11 Tapley court Fredericton, NB E3A 5B6 Tel: (506) 451-6400 www.motorcoachcanada.com info@motorcoachcanada.com PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2012/ OMCT0312/7520 CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40064978 here has been a lot of media attention on safety issues in the motor coach and coach travel industry lately, most of it fairly negative. While the facts show that coach travel is still one of the safest ways to travel, and incidents, particularly fatal crashes, are relatively rare, when we do have an accident it is sure to attract media coverage that leads to negative perceptions. And as the old adage goes, perception is reality for many people. As a result of this attention, governments on both sides of the border and, indeed, all over the world, are looking more closely at safety issues with an eye to “improving” coach safety through new regulations and tighter enforcement. In the US, as a result of a series of high profile crashes, the recently-passed Highway and Public Transportation law requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and FMCSA to conduct at least eight studies or reports related to a wide range of motor coach industry safety issues, some of which include motor coach fires, retrofitting all motor coaches with seatbelts, making windows less prone to popping open to reduce passenger ejections, and requiring electronic stability control systems. Further, as a result of the investigation into a March 12, 2011, accident in which a motor coach collided with a vertical highway signpost resulting in 15 fatalities and 18 injuries, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued 16 recommendations designed to enhance coach safety, including a recommendation that NHTSA should develop performance standards for advanced speed-limiting technology for all heavy vehicles, including trucks, buses and motor coaches. In Japan, a new regulation has just been passed requiring at least two drivers to be present on night buses running distances more than 400 km. This development hasn’t gone unnoticed in Canada and the U.S., and governments here are watching all other jurisdictions around the world to see what they can adopt for use here, particularly regarding the issue of driver fatigue. In Canada as well as in the US, fatigue is where a great deal of the regulatory attention is focused. Transport Canada, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) and the provincial governments are all looking at new rules concerning sleep apnea testing for drivers, electronic on board recorders (EOBRs) to monitor hours of service compliance and other measures to combat driver fatigue. Finally, NHTSA, FMCSA and Transport Canada are looking to mandate seat belts for all new coaches. The Road Explorer 6 Fall 2012 http://www.naylor.com http://www.omca.com http://www.omca.com http://www.motorcoachcanada.com http://www.omca.com Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Road Explorer - Fall 2012 Industry Voice Issues Update Business Expansion for Bus Operators It’s Art You Know: Bus Wraps are Turning Coaches into Mobile Billboards OMCA’s 2012 Golf Tournament A Peak Experience The Second City’s a First Choice Montreal – Not to be Missed Take the Maine Trail Perspectives Eduscho Ltd. BUYERS’ GUIDE CLASSIFIEDS INDEX OF ADVERTISERS The Road Explorer - Fall 2012 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/OMCT0312 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/OMCT0212 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/OMCT0112 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/OMCT0311 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/OMCT0211 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/OMCT0111 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/OMCT0310 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/OMCT0210 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/OMCT0110 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/OMCT0309 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/OMCT0209 http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com