2011 Blue Bird Conventional

Defect. BLUE BIRD HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 ALL AMERICAN, CONVENTIONAL, AND MICRO BIRD SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 13, 2007 THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH RICON MODEL S OR K SERIES PUBLIC USE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE RESTRAINT BELT ON THESE LIFTS WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LIFT FROM MOVING, UNLESS THE TONGUE OF THE BELT IS FULLY ENGAGED AND LATCHED IN THE BUCKLE. RICON HAS DISCOVERED, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE OPERATOR TO INSERT THE BELT TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE WITHOUT FULLY ENGAGING THE LATCHING MECHANISM. IN THIS CASE, THE RESTRAINT BELT WOULD APPEAR TO BE LATCHED, AND THE OPERATOR COULD RUN THE LIFT. IF THE RESTRAINT BELT TONGUE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED INTO THE RESTRAINT BELT BUCKLE, AND LATCHED, THE LIFT MAY OPERATE WITH AN OCCUPANT ON THE PLATFORM.

Risk. THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE WITHOUT THE RESTRAINT BELT PROPERLY BUCKLED.

Remedy. BLUE BIRD IS WORKING WITH RICON AND RICON WILL BE HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE RICON'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-060. RICON WILL PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH A WARNING DECAL AND A DVD-BASED TRAINING AID. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE NEW DESIGN OF SCHOOL BUS ESCAPE WINDOWS. IN THE PAST, THESE WINDOWS WERE HINGED ALONG THE TOP AND SWUNG OUT FROM THE BOTTOM. THE NEW DESIGN IS HINGED ON THE FRONT AND THEY SWING OUT FROM THE BACK. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO SMALL CHILDREN WHO MAY ACCIDENTALLY RELEASE THE LATCH, OPEN THE WINDOW AND FALL OUT OF THE SCHOOL BUS TO THE GROUND BELOW. I PICTURE A SCENARIO WHERE A SMALL CHILD MAY STAND UP ON THE SEAT ( YES I KNOW THEY SHOULD NOT STAND UP ON THE SEAT BUT YOU CANNOT PREDICT THE ACTIONS OF A 3 OR 4 YEAR OLD CHILD) TO TRY TO PUT THE WINDOW DOWN. HIS SLEEVE CATCHES THE RELEASE ON THE WAY UP AS IT DOES RELEASE FROM THE BOTTOM UP. THE WINDOW FLIES OPEN. HE IS ALREADY IN AN OFF BALANCE POSITION SO OUT THE WINDOW HE GOES. NOW LETS IMAGINE THE BUS IS GOING AROUND A CORNER. YES AN ALARM WILL SOUND ALERTING THE BUS DRIVER BUT DO YOU REALLY THINK HE WILL BE ABLE TO STOP AND SECURE THE BUS, GET OUT OF HIS SEAT AND GRAB THAT CHILD BEFORE HE GOES OUT THE WINDOW? I DON'T THINK SO. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT A TETHER BE ATTACHED TO THESE WINDOWS TO RESTRICT THE OPENING TO ABOUT 6". SAID TETHER WOULD BE DESIGNED TO BREAK @ A PREDETERMINED FORCE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I AM JUST TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE HERE BUT IF IT TAKES A TRAGIC ACCIDENT TO OPEN UP SOME EYES THEN SO BE IT. I JUST HOPE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ON ONE OF OUR BUSES. *TR