Washington – In the aftermath of two fatal tour bus crashes in the northeast United States, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) proposed legislation aimed at strengthening the Department of Transportation’s ability to set uniform safety standards on new and existing buses.
Introduced April 6, the Bus Uniform Standards and Enhanced Safety Act (H.R. 1390) (.pdf file) proposes requiring DOT to:
- Complete research and testing on key safety issues, including occupant protection; roof strength; window glazing; fire prevention, detection and migration; and emergency evacuation
- Promulgate new motorcoach safety rules based on this research and testing
- Review current state requirements for earning a commercial driver’s license with a passenger endorsement
On March 30, Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) proposed a similar bill, the Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act (S. 453). Brown and Hutchison also released data (.pdf file) on injuries and fatalities associated with recent tour bus crashes.
Washington – In the aftermath of two fatal tour bus crashes in the northeast United States, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) proposed legislation aimed at strengthening the Department of Transportation’s ability to set uniform safety standards on new and existing buses.
Introduced April 6, the Bus Uniform Standards and Enhanced Safety Act (H.R. 1390) (.pdf file) proposes requiring DOT to:
- Complete research and testing on key safety issues, including occupant protection; roof strength; window glazing; fire prevention, detection and migration; and emergency evacuation
- Promulgate new motorcoach safety rules based on this research and testing
- Review current state requirements for earning a commercial driver’s license with a passenger endorsement
On March 30, Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) proposed a similar bill, the Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act (S. 453). Brown and Hutchison also released data (.pdf file) on injuries and fatalities associated with recent tour bus crashes.
