IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jean Leier (704) 432-0496
BUS OPERATORS PUT THEIR SAFE DRIVING SKILLS TO THE TEST
Charlotte, N.C., April 16, 2009 - Bus Operators will go head-to-head for a chance to be crowned the best when the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) holds its annual Bus Roadeo on Saturday, April 18, starting at 8 a.m. at the Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center, located at 2725 Beam Road. During this year's Roadeo, 21 drivers from CATS' Bus Operations Division (BOD) and Special Transportation Service (STS) and three drivers from Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services (DSS) will put their driving and safety skills to the test on a challenging course.
BOD operators must navigate a 40-foot bus and STS and DSS operators must navigate a paratransit vehicle through 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 in May.
The Bus Roadeo is an important part of CATS' safety initiatives because it tests the skills drivers use every day 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 with an experienced operator, as well as year-round retraining. This attention to safety has helped CATS dramatically decrease its accident rate. CATS ended fiscal year 2008 with an overall system-wide vehicular accident rate of 0.55 per 100,000 miles. Year-to-date through February 2009, the accident rate for CATS' is 0.44 per 100,000 miles.
"Each year we carry 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 Marvin Bohon, Interim General Manager of Safety and Security. "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 and to get them ready for the uncertainties of Charlotte roadways. The Bus Roadeo is just one way that we show are commitment to safety, while giving operators the chance to demonstrate their safe-driving skills on a local and state level."
To learn more about CATS and its services, visit www.ridetransit.org, or call (704) 336-RIDE.
