Development and application of a vehicle safety rating scale for public transport minibuses

An innovative system was developed to assign a ‘vehicle safety score’ to minibuses used for public transport, based on a set of variables quantifying primary and secondary safety characteristics. A sample of in-service minibuses was inspected and each assigned a safety score using the system. The results highlighted generally low levels of both active and passive safety, with the study outcomes currently being used to drive the implementation of new safety standards aimed at reducing the burden of death and serious injury from minibuses in the United Arab Emirates.