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New Bluebird technology could soon be required on buses around the world has the potential keep a bus on the road even in the wettest of storms or the iciest of roads.
The system also boasts innovative sensors and braking capability. Additionally, it offers axle breaking, which the BlueBird websites guarantees will achieve “the highest level of stability performance on both dry and wet surfaces.” The system was created in 2014, but has picked up publicity lately. Hopefully this safety addition becomes a standard within a few years. While it is expensive - pricing ranges between $1,500 and $2,000 per unit, the value of saving lives is priceless.
A video on the BlueBird website shows the effects of this system. The video depicts several scenarios of buses drifting and running into cones. With the new Bluebird technology, however, this would not be a problem. The system allows mitigates skids and slides by monitoring a variety of vehicle parameters along with a selective and automatic application of the vehicle’s brakes.
This bus system is important, as bus crashes almost always end up being fatal. According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) around 134 people die in school-related-vehicles per year, with 8% riding in the buses. Pedestrians, bicyclists and others outside the bus account for 21% of fatalities.