IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jean Leier (704) 432-0496
CATS BUS OPERATORS REV UP FOR ANNUAL BUS ROADEO
Charlotte, N.C., April 8, 2008 - Bus Operators will put their driving skills to the test as they go head-to-head for a chance to be crowned the best when the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) holds its annual Bus Roadeo. The Roadeo will be held Saturday, April 12, starting at 8 a.m. at the Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center, located at 2725 Beam Road.
During this year's Roadeo, 36 drivers from CATS' Bus Operations Division (BOD) and Special Transportation Service (STS) and 12 drivers from Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services (DSS) will put their driving and safety skills through a series of challenging tests. BOD operators must navigate a 40-foot bus and STS and DSS operators must navigate a paratransit vehicle through an obstacle course that includes several driving elements such as passenger stops, serpentine turns and backing maneuvers. They will be judged on how safely and timely they complete the course and on their professional appearance, pre-trip inspection and a written safety test.
The operator who completes all elements of the competition and scores the most points will receive top honors and represent CATS at the state-wide competition being held in Wilmington this June and compete for a chance to represent CATS at the International Bus Roadeo held next year.
The Bus Roadeo is an important part of CATS' safety initiatives because it tests the skills drivers use everyday to make sure they safely arrive to a destination. Operators undergo intensive training even before they get behind the wheel of a CATS bus, including a five-week session to learn the dos and don'ts of the road, Smith System defensive driving and road training, as well as year-round retraining.
This attention to safety has helped CATS dramatically decrease its accident rate. CATS ended fiscal year 2007 with an overall system-wide vehicular accident rate of 0.55 per 100,000 miles; a 25 percent reduction over FY06's rate of 0.74 per 100,000 miles. And year-to-date through February 2008, the accident rate for CATS' BOD and STS is 0.44 per 100,000 miles and 0.17 per 100,000 miles, respectively.
"As we travel more miles each year with an increasing number of passengers, it is crucial that we step up our safety because CATS operators, just like all drivers, never know what they're going to encounter when they hit the streets," said Jim Zingale, CATS' Chief Operating Officer. "We put a lot of emphasis on training to prepare our operators to handle a variety of situations from traffic congestion to inclement weather to customers' needs so they are ready for the uncertainties of Charlotte roadways. The Bus Roadeo is just one way that we show our commitment to safety, while giving operators the chance to demonstrate their safe-driving skills on a local, state and national level."
To learn more about CATS and its services, visit www.ridetransit.org, or call (704) 336-RIDE.
