Students from South Florida who take the bus home during long weekends and school breaks may want to rethink their travel arrangements.
A federal report released Monday showed that curbside buses have a fatal accident rate seven times higher than that of other types of interstate bus operators.
"Curbside buses pick up passengers from street corners, parking lots and in front of retail stores rather than using traditional bus terminals. More than half of the companies have been in business for 10 years or less, and 44 percent have 10 or fewer buses, said the report by the National Transportation Safety Board," said a MSNBC article.
The fatal accident rate for curbside buses between 2005 and March 2011 was 1.4 per 100 vehicles. That is compared with 0.2 percent for conventional buses.
"This year, there have been 23 interstate bus accidents in which 33 people have been killed and 452 others injured, according to a tally kept by Advocates for Auto and Highway Safety, which is pushing for tougher bus safety regulations," the article said.
Many students ride home using GMG Transports or the Miami Bus Service. Both stop at shopping centers and service plazas along the route to drop students off. A GMG round trip costs $45. For Thanksgiving a round trip ticket with the Miami Bus Service costs $55 and a one-way ticket costs $45.
What do you think? Is it worth the cheap price if you are more likely to get in an accident?
Posts in The Traveling Gator appear on Wednesdays.
