Regardless of distance traveled, small passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles, such as stretch sedan limousines and commuter vanpool operations, must comply with federal safety regulations, according to a final rule (.pdf file) issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Feb. 1 in the Federal Register.
The final rule amends the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to require motor carriers operating CMVs designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 passengers, including the driver, to comply with the safety regulations. The rule makes FMCSRs applicable to vehicles beyond a 75 air-mile radius from the driver’s normal work-reporting location.
FMCSA estimates that 558 fatal crashes involving large vans with between 9 and 15 passengers aboard at the time of the crash occur each year, and 2,234 injury crashes each year involve 9- to 15-passenger vehicles.
The rule goes into effect May 3.
