The Greater Northeast Motorcoach Association has joined a federal safety partnership aimed at teaching motorists how to safely share the road with large trucks and buses.
The association announced Oct. 29 that it is participating in “Our Roads, Our Safety,” a public education initiative of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The partnership brings together public and private organizations to promote safe driving around commercial vehicles.
For GNEMA, which represents motorcoach operators and industry suppliers throughout the Northeast, the partnership provides additional educational resources and outreach materials to share with members and the traveling public.
“Safety has always been a cornerstone of our association and the motorcoach industry,” said Pattie Cowley, GNEMA’s executive director. “Our members transport masses of passengers safely each year, and we recognize that roadway safety is a shared responsibility. By joining FMCSA’s Our Roads, Our Safety partnership, we have another opportunity to educate the public, support our professional drivers, and reinforce the importance of safely sharing the road with motorcoaches and other commercial vehicles.”
The initiative focuses on helping motorists understand the operating characteristics of large commercial vehicles, including significant blind spots, longer stopping distances and limited maneuverability.
GNEMA said it will use the agency’s resources and safety messages in its outreach to members, industry stakeholders and motorists.
The partnership adds to the association’s safety education and professional development efforts, including its annual driver safety competition, which recognizes motorcoach drivers’ skills and professionalism.
Motorists also have a role in protecting passengers and professional drivers, said Michelle Petelicki, GNEMA’s chair.
“Our professional motorcoach drivers are responsible for the safety of their passengers every day, but roadway safety doesn’t rest on their shoulders alone,” Petelicki said. “Motorists need to understand the challenges of operating a large commercial vehicle, from blind spots to stopping distances. This partnership gives us another opportunity to build that awareness and make the roads safer for everyone.”
