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Dulles, Va. —Reston Limousine announces the promotion of Joseph Swetnam to Safety & Training Manager.
“Joe’s experience and extensive skillsets have enabled us to place him in a variety of positions in several departments, and we will be leveraging his talents as we update and enhance technologies in safety and training,” said President and CEO Kristina Bouweiri.
Swetnam will oversee Reston Limousine’s safety, compliance, and training programs. Prior to joining the company in 2013, he managed these programs for a smaller local operator for seven years. While at Reston Limousine, he has trained in dispatch, supervised shuttle operations, and solved IT challenges. In his new role, Swetnam is introducing and continuing technology initiatives, including managing the use of a new fleet management system implemented earlier this year, going paperless and transitioning to electronic forms, and offering online video training for new and current drivers.
Swetnam’s promotion comes as longtime Safety and Training Manager Keith Johnson has transitioned to his new role as a transportation management consultant with BUS Advisors. Johnson, who joined Reston Limousine in 2009, has worked in the transportation industry since 1988 and focused on safety and compliance management since 1992. During his years of tenure, Reston Limousine has successfully passed six full audits by the Department of Transportation and Department of Defense with no penalties assessed.
Johnson will remain working as a consultant with Reston Limousine, managing the company’s driver background checks as well as the drug and alcohol testing program.
“Reston Limousine safety and training has become recognized as one of the industry’s pre-eminent programs and will continue as such, under Keith’s guidance with BUS Advisors,” said COO Tony Simon.
“We greatly appreciate Keith’s contributions to Reston Limousine over the years, and we’re thankful for his continued partnership while we look forward to Joe building upon his legacy,” said Bouweiri.
Visit restonlimo.com for more information.
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Washington, D.C. — Paul Miller, legislative counsel to The Transportation Alliance (formerly the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association) testified before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Subcommittee on Highways & Transit recently, outlining passenger safety concerns about transportation network companies (TNCs).
Uber and Lyft surprised and frustrated lawmakers by failing to appear at the hearing. The topic of the hearing was “Examining the Future of Transportation Network Companies Challenges and Opportunities.”
Miller testified about the inadequacy of Uber’s and Lyft’s background-check process and the need for passengers to be protected by fingerprint-based background checks.
During the hearing, Miller informed the committee that the General Services Administration (GSA) is planning to reimburse TNCs for federal-employee travel instead of using taxis or other transportation modes. Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) responded: “That was news to me. We definitely have a handle on that.”
“This is a particularly important moment for Congress to address TNC passenger safety as the GSA moves to outsource federally funded transportation,” said Terry O’Toole, President of The Transportation Alliance. “We urge Congress to protect riders by requiring effective fingerprint background checks of drivers.”
Visit thetransportationalliance.org for more information.
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Brussels, Belgium — Van Hool, independent manufacturer of buses, coaches, and industrial vehicles, chose to equip four coaches exhibited at Busworld with Vision Systems’ solution Smart-Vision. This camera monitoring system is part of the many technological innovations integrated in Van Hool’s vehicles that reflect the company’s innovative strength, and was featured both the EX and TX range coaches on display at the exhibition.
Smart-Vision replaces the rearview mirrors with high-definition cameras and interior displays to offer optimized visibility and enhanced ergonomics. Compared with standard rearview mirrors, the interior displays eliminate glare and the automatic adjustment of the screens’ brightness ensures excellent visibility in all lighting conditions, at the entrance and exit of tunnels, night and day, in all weather, and in any driving environment. In addition to eliminating lateral blind spots, the solution provides functions such as the suppression of the A pillar blind spot, parking and maneuvering aid, guidance assistance, and security monitoring around the vehicle.
The EX range takes into consideration the comfort and safety of the passengers in an environmentally and economically responsible manner while achieving efficiency and elegance. Vision Systems’ Smart-Vision is fully in line with these needs. The removal of the mirrors lowers wind resistance for improved aerodynamics, which reduces fuel consumption by around 5 percent and CO2 emissions. It also reduces maintenance costs and down time linked to mirror breakage and offers a very modern design.
With the TX range—and more specifically the TDX Astromega double deck coach—the remit was to provide the driver with a level of comfort as high as that of the passengers. Vision Systems’ Smart-Vision responds to that expectation as it reduces the driver fatigue by offering extended visibility and more ergonomics.
“We are so proud to equip the vehicles of a leading bus manufacturer in Europe with our solution. Being part of Van Hool’s innovative equipment is very rewarding and totally in line with our commitment to drive continuous innovation as a key to value-creating differentiation while responding to comfort and safety issues,” stated David Le Berre, general manager of safety tech business unit, Vision Systems’ division dedicated to ADAS.
Visit vanhool.be or visionsystems.fr for more information.
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