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DOT Releases New Bus Safety Measures

In response to a series of tragic bus accidents recently, the US Department of Transportation has released a set of new measures to minimize accidents and reduce injuries and fatalities in these crashes.  These measures include tougher licensing standards for commercial bus drivers, encouragement of compliance with federal safety regulations and promotion of awareness among passengers.  Los Angeles bus accident attorneys believe that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s new rules will go a long way in helping to keep bus passengers safe.

A new rule requires anyone applying for a commercial driver’s license to first obtain a commercial driver’s learners permit.  Under the rule, all state commercial driver licensing agencies must use CDL testing systems that meets the knowledge and skill standards of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.  The federal agency also prohibits the use of foreign-language interpreters to reduce the prospect of testing fraud.  Before this rule, applicants for commercial driver’s licenses were not required to obtain a learners permit.  Besides, CDL testing was not uniform around the country.

The Department of Transportation has also proposed several new measures to deal with many of the common problems that affect bus safety the country.  One common problem that Los Angeles bus accident lawyers have found is the lack of oversight that allows “rogue” companies to reincarnate themselves under a new name soon after an accident.  It is far too easy for such companies to continue operations under a new name and address after their vehicles have been involved in a serious accident.  The Federal Motor Carrier Administration is proposing new rules to take care of this problem too.

One of these proposals includes a provision that would give the Department of Transportation greater authority to take enforcement action against passenger carriers that it believes have reincarnated themselves from old, unsafe companies.  The Department of Transportation would establish a federal standard that would help determine whether a carrier is simply an older, unsafe carrier under a new name and address.

The Department of Transportation is also making other proposals that would require new motorcoach companies to undergo a complete safety audit before they became eligible for US DOT operating authority.  Other proposals would revise current federal laws to allow for commercial drivers licenses to be suspended or revoked for any drug or alcohol-related offenses even in non-commercial vehicles.  Under the new proposals, the penalty for carriers that continue to operate without receiving US DOT operating authority would be increased from the current $2,000 a day to $25,000.

The Department of Transportation wants consumers to be more aware about the kind of carriers they choose.  It has launched the Think Safety: Every Trip, Every Time safety checklist that should allow consumers to determine the safety of their carrier before a trip.  The checklist would allow a consumer to rate the company’s safety record, safety rating as well as its US DOT operating authority before buying a ticket.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of bus accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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