National Motorcoach Safety Summit Takes Closer Look at Passenger Safety

With gas prices high and the economy in a downturn, many people have decided to opt for cheaper forms of travel when planning their vacations or trips. This has meant a big boom in the bus business. But with the number of bus accidents this year, even the Department of Transportation (DOT) is questioning the safety of this travel option.

On September 23, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a division of the DOT, held a National Motorcoach Safety Summit to discuss ways to better protect passenger safety.

Just this past summer, a young girl lost her leg when the bus she was riding in crashed on Interstate 35 between San Antonio and Austin. Investigators determined that the crash happened because the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel.

One area of concern to the FMCSA is bus driver fatigue. Under the current regulations, bus drivers are allowed to drive a maximum of 10 hours and can be on-duty for a maximum of 15 hours. All bus drivers are required to keep a log of their driving time.

New rules have been proposed that would limit a bus driver's time behind the wheel even more, but critics say that the limits would still not be enough to ensure that drivers do not get fatigued.

Nevertheless, FMCSA will continue to enforce the current regulations by stepping up safety inspections. Over a period of two weeks, the Passenger Bus Safety Inspection Strike Force will be inspecting motorcoaches, tour buses, and school buses around the country.

"We've seen the horrific consequences when motorcoach companies do not make safety a top priority. With everyone at the table, we can achieve our shared goal of raising the safety bar for the motorcoach industry," said DOT Secretary Ray LaHood.

FMCSA also wants to empower passengers with the knowledge they need to choose a safe bus company. The DOT will launch a smart phone app in November to help passengers choose a carrier.

If you were injured in a bus accident, you deserve to know your legal rights. Call the experienced bus accident attorneys at Van Wey Law today at (214)329-1350 or (800)489-5082.