SMSThe National Transportation Safety Board is calling for new safety standards for limousines following a deadly crash in upstate New York.
The safety board recommended that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration require lap and shoulder seat belts for passengers in all new vehicles being stretched into limousines. It also recommended setting minimum performance standards for limo seating systems.
Just under a year ago, a modified stretch limo crashed near Schoharie, New York, killing the driver, 17 passengers and two pedestrians. According to the Washington Post, it was the deadliest transportation accident in the U.S. in almost a decade.
An NTSB report says in the case of that crash, "injuries to occupants within the passenger compartment might have been mitigated by a combination of adequate seat integrity, well-designed passenger lap/shoulder belts, and proper seat belt use."
The NHTSA said in a statement that it "welcomes NTSB's initial analysis" and that it "looks forward to reviewing the full investigation, data, and analysis when they are complete."
