CNYRTA Approves Safety Belt Policy

     The Central New York Regional Transportation Authority will implement a mandatory safety belt use policy for services that are provided on its smaller vehicles and similarly sized subcontracted vehicles.  The policy will go into effect January 1, 2010.  The policy is as follows:

Mandatory Safety Belt Use

A.  POLICY – Specialized Transportation Service (STS) is provided through the use of sedans, vans, body on chassis vans and taxis. STS includes the ADA Complementary Paratransit program called CALL-A-BUS, Senior Transportation and Rides for Work.  In November, 2009, the CNYRTA Board of Members approved the policy that safety belts must be used by passengers that utilize the above vehicles.  Such vehicles are utilized in CALL-A-BUS, Inc. (CAB) services directly operated by CAB or contracted to another private transportation provider.  Safety belts include lap belts and shoulder belts.  Use of safety belts is proven to reduce injury in the event of an accident or accident aversion maneuver.

     The seat belt policy will NOT affect Centro’s fixed-route transit bus services that are provided on larger vehicles.