Feb 2, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW LEETRAN BUSES PUT SAFETY FIRST 

FORT MYERS, FL  (FEB. 2, 2007) -- LeeTran has added two new buses to its fleet with advanced safety features to protect its passengers and drivers. 

The $300,000 vehicles look similar to the rest of the fleet, but drivers who follow one in traffic will immediately see the differences. 

The brake/tail lights are 7" in diameter and are LEDs, making them considerably brighter than normal bulb lights. There is a second set of brake lights and turn signals, mounted higher on the back for better visibility by trucks. 

An LED "STOP" sign is mounted in the center and lights up whenever the driver depresses the brake. A "YIELD" sign flashes when the driver is re-entering traffic after making a stop. 

"As traffic congestion increases, we are seeing a higher incidence of rear-end collisions," said Transit Director Steve Myers. "They occur both when the bus is stopped and when it re-enters traffic, so these new safety features should significantly reduce our risk of collisions." 

There is also an LED destination sign on the back which displays the route number the bus is traveling. 

For passenger safety, there are bright LED lights in the stepwells of both entrance and exits doors, and a special skid-resistant flooring. 

The two new buses also are equipped with front bike racks to accommodate three bicycles instead of two. LeeTran was recognized last year for carrying the highest percentage of riders with bicycles of any system in the nation. "There have been times when a bicyclist has had to wait for another bus because both bike slots were in use," explained Myers. "We want to reduce that inconvenience and encourage more people to combine bike and bus travel in Lee County." 

This purchase marks the beginning of a five-year program to replace aging vehicles. The Florida Department of Transportation has allocated $8 million over the five-year period to fund bus replacement.

Printable Version