The Holiday Season is right around the corner. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year will be here before we know it. Individuals and families will be traveling to see their friends and relatives, near and far. Many people will rely on passenger buses to get to their destination. During the Holiday Season, cars, buses, and trucks will be crisscrossing the metropolitan, suburban and rural roadways throughout the country, including the highways and roadways in Reading, Berks County, and Pottsville, Schuylkill County, and in nearby areas, including Philadelphia. Passengers planning to ride on commercial buses should take certain safety precautions when planning their trip. Once the bus has left the station, for their safety and well-being, they should be aware of important safety information. To further support the communities we serve, the personal injuries attorneys at Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., want to help by sharing all-important safety tips for bus passengers from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
The following list of recommendations is provided by the FMCSA to help the traveling public have a safe and pleasant experience whenever they are riding on a bus:
● Before stepping foot on a bus, use the FMCSA’s online Passenger Carrier Search by Company (https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/passenger-safety/search-results/by-company) to check the company’s safety history and to make sure that they are registered, insured, and authorized to operate by both the FMCSA and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
● Familiarize yourself with safety equipment upon boarding. Know where the emergency exits are located, as well as where the fire extinguisher is located.
● If available, use passenger seat belts whenever the bus is in motion.
● Use the handrails when boarding or disembarking the bus and, if needed, ask the driver for assistance.
● Remain seated when the bus is moving.
● Secure personal items in the overhead storage bins to prevent tripping hazards on the floor and aisles.
● In an emergency, follow the instructions given to you by the bus driver.
● If you believe your safety or the safety of fellow passengers is in immediate danger, call 911 for emergency assistance.
● Emergencies could include a driver who appears to be incapacitated, intoxicated (drunk or on drugs), or too tired to drive safely, driving erratically or recklessly (for example, speeding or texting), and a driver who refuses to stop for an immediate safety issue like smoke in the cabin or skidding.
The auto, truck, bus, and motorcycle accident lawyers at Liever, Hyman & Potter, P.C., are concerned for the safety of all motor vehicle drivers and passengers throughout Pennsylvania and serve auto accident victims and their loved ones in Reading, Berks County, and Pottsville, Schuylkill County, and throughout Central and Eastern PA, including Philadelphia. Our attorneys handle all injury claims, including claims involving serious injury and death caused by the negligence of others.
From the desk of Adam K. Levin, Esquire