Actually it is Travel a pretty safe bet with a coach. If an accident happens, however, there are still suggestions for improvement.
The risk of being injured or killed while driving a coach is comparatively low, but there are still suggestions for improvement for the construction of the buses and for evacuation requirements. This is a result of a scientific study that the Accident research by insurers (UDV).
3 seconds escape route for coaches
The study calls for binding specifications for the evacuation time through the doors. In contrast to airplanes - evacuated within 90 seconds - there is no legal requirement for coaches. The study considers 3 seconds per passenger to be appropriate. For a quick evacuation, the UDV suggests activating light strips to the nearest emergency exits, similar to an airplane. In addition, the aisles have to be wider than previously usual in order to enable rapid evacuation.
Stricter fire protection requirements for the interior materials are also part of the catalog of requirements, and the skylights should be installed horizontally instead of the usual lengthways for easier exit. They should also be made of shatterproof material and be easy to remove in an emergency. Instead of two-point belts for the seats, the study recommends installing three-point belts or belts with a wing lock. They enable faster unbuckling than with two-point belts.
The makers of the study pay particular attention to the case that evacuation via the doors is not possible - whether the bus is tilted or on its side in the event of an accident or the doors are blocked. The exit is then only feasible via the roof hatches or the side windows, which poses great difficulties for older and unsporting passengers. It should therefore be possible to remove the windshield from the inside for a quick exit. This can be done through a pressure hose or a detonating cord along the adhesive seam. The rear window should also be marked as an emergency exit and not be blocked from the outside by luggage racks.