TÜV SÜD: Need for further efforts to improve bus and coach safety

TÜV SÜD: Need for further efforts to improve bus and coach safety

Meticulous care and maintenance is still a priority need for bus and coach companies and drivers in order to improve safety levels in their vehicles. This conclusion was announced by TÜV SÜD today on the occasion of the publication of "Bus Report 2011" by the Association of Technical Inspection Agencies (VdTÜV) in Berlin. Although over half of the 50,000 roadworthiness tests which formed the basis of the report's evaluations showed no faults, the statistics on light systems, brakes and corrosion indicate that a need for action still remains. Wolfgang Eichler, Member of the Management Board of TÜV SÜD Auto Service GmbH, underlined that although buses and coaches perform significantly better than cars in vehicle inspections, with only 13.8 per cent showing major faults, their key role in passenger transport means that plentiful efforts must be made in collaboration with bus and coach operators to produce improvements.

Light systems the most frequent source of faults

A glance at this year's report reveals that a striking 19.4 per cent of buses inspected had problems with light systems – a gloomier result than last year's 18.6 per cent. This year, the second place was occupied by engine and drive train faults (5.2 per cent), closely followed by faults on front and rear axles (5 per cent). Corrosion on load-bearing parts was found in 4.9 per cent of the vehicles inspected, while brakes were a cause for concern in 4 per cent.

An overall view of vehicle inspections in 2009/2010 showed that a total of 55.5 per cent of buses and coaches passed their inspection without faults, while 30.5 per cent had minor faults. 13.8 per cent of vehicles showed major faults, with 0.2 per cent classified as unroadworthy. The good overall situation with respect to safety must not be allowed to distract from the importance of individual cases. A major fault occurring in a long-distance coach may have fatal consequences: "Although buses and coaches deliver significantly better results than cars, with fault rates of 13.8 per cent against approximately 20 per cent respectively, we must engage intensively with bus and coach companies to find ways of reducing these rates still further", commented Wolfgang Eichler, Member of the Management Board of TÜV SÜD Auto Service GmbH, adding that the condition of vehicles that were 20 or more years old - which are relatively common in bus and coach transport - had become critical.

Corrosion: Take preventive measures now and follow them up in spring

This is confirmed by the statistics for corrosion, which was TÜV SÜD's area of focus for this year's report. Experts noted corrosion in one out of five of all twenty-year-old vehicles. "However, it must be remembered that buses and coaches still contain quite a lot of steel, which is susceptible to rust", reminds Hans-Georg Schwabowski, head of branch and bus and coach expert at TÜV SÜD, continuing, "Higher-quality materials and modern production processes impact on vehicle prices, but are worthwhile over the long term." How can the effects of corrosion in 'senior' vehicles be prevented? "Meticulous care and maintenance are the be-all and end-all", advises Schwabowski. His concrete tips include regular checks of the underbody and immediate professional repair of any incipient corrosion damage. "Buses and coaches need especially extensive care before the winter season gets under way, to prevent rust from taking hold. And this can happen particularly on vehicle routes where road de-icers are in common use", the expert remarks, commenting that a thorough wash and inspection of the underbody must also be carried out in spring to repair any damage caused over the winter by road gritting and salting.

Carrying out a thorough inspection of buses and coaches as part of pre-departure checks (see checklist in the Bus Report), training staff to perform smaller-scale repairs such as changing headlight bulbs, sending vehicles to the garage as soon as repairs are due: in Wolfgang Eichler's view, following this trio of instructions more carefully and consistently will bring about further improvements in bus and coach safety. "After all, all those involved in buses and coaches as a mass transit method - operators, garages and repair shops, and inspection organizations - have an important responsibility towards society", warns Eichler.

Eichler believes that the figures from the latest Bus Report confirm the necessity for short cycles of roadworthiness tests and safety inspections. Buses and coaches must undergo their first roadworthiness test after only one year in operation, compared to three years for cars, and must be inspected annually after that. They must also undergo specific safety inspections to ensure they comply with the rigorous safety standards imposed on passenger transport vehicles. The frequency of these safety inspections depends on the age of the vehicle; from their third year of operation, buses and coaches must be inspected every three months.

School bus campaign also raises the safety profile

"Nevertheless, it is important to raise public awareness of bus and coach safety in addition to these measures", stresses Eichler. In his view the regularly published Bus Report contributes to this – as did the special traffic safety campaign for school buses held in September in collaboration with the Association of Bus Companies in Baden-Wuerttemberg (WBO). "The joint campaign was designed to help in guaranteeing permanently high technical standards for school buses – and we will continue to follow it up", states Wolfgang Eichler.

Collaboration with other technical inspection organizations for the benefit of passengers and to promote safety is also the aim of the "Bus and Coach Safety" certificate established by TÜV SÜD some years ago. Certification focuses on organization, drivers and vehicles, and examines drivers' work schedules and advanced training opportunities as well as making regular checks of safety equipment (first-aid kits, high-visibility vests etc.) and the degree of environmental protection applied in company processes.

In addition, as a partner of bus and coach companies TÜV SÜD provides a range of further services from training courses, damage appraisals and vehicle valuations to complete vehicle fleet management.

The full "Bus Report 2011", including the theme "Roadworthiness Tests of the Future", can be downloaded at www.vdtuev.de

Note for editorial staff: Photos can be downloaded in printable resolution from the "Current Press Photos" category www.tuev-sued.de/pressefotos.

For more details about the "Bus and Coach Safety" certificate visit www.sichere-personenbefoerderung.de

Contact: Frank Volk