Blue Bird And IMMI Present Industry-First Driver Airbags For School Buses

Shown is a test model with a deployed driver airbag. (Photo courtesy of Blue Bird)

For nearly a century, Blue Bird has built its reputation on one unwavering commitment: the safety of the students, drivers and communities it serves. That legacy of leadership continues with the introduction of driver airbags as standard equipment on all Blue Bird Vision school buses.

“For the first time in student transportation history, new Blue Bird buses will feature 4Front, a steering wheel-deployed airbag developed in partnership with IMMI, the trusted global leader in school bus seating and advanced safety systems,” according to a press release. “The first buses with this ground-breaking feature have now rolled off the production line — marking another milestone in Blue Bird’s history of innovation.

“Most people are surprised to learn that school buses have never been required to include driver airbags or seat belts. In passenger vehicles, these features have been standard for decades. Yet every weekday, more than 175,000 school bus drivers transport 25 million children, covering nearly 6 billion miles per year. Or, the distance to the moon and back over 12,500 times.”

During a conversation between Blue Bird Product Segment Leader Brad Beauchamp and IMMI executives, John Barrington and Norm Gould, on the Bird’s Eye View podcast, it was mentioned that during an incident or accident on a school bus, the driver is the person responsible for helping children safely off the bus. One of the main things needed after an accident is an adult who’s in good shape to help kids evacuate.

“By introducing driver airbags as standard equipment, Blue Bird is helping ensure that drivers are better protected and better able to respond when it matters most,” the release added. “The introduction of the 4Front driver airbag is the latest achievement in Blue Bird’s long-standing collaboration with IMMI, which recently celebrated the grand opening of its new manufacturing facility in Macon, GA.”

The new plant will support Blue Bird’s safety initiatives by manufacturing seating and safety systems for select Blue Bird models equipped with these industry-first features, including three-point seat belts and steering wheel-deployed airbags.

Blue Bird Vision models rolling off the production line now feature IMMI’s 4Front airbag system as standard equipment. The airbag deploys automatically within milliseconds in the event of a crash, just like an automobile, and requires no additional action or maintenance from drivers or technicians. Visit blue-bird.com.