Bus Safety Summit
CVSA IDENTIFIES EIGHT AREAS TO FOCUS BUS SAFETY EFFORTS
Industry, Government Proactively Point to New Entrant Standards, Hours of Service
WASHINGTON, DC (March 16, 2009) – Stakeholders from all sides of the bus safety community convened March 5-6, during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) first-ever “Bus Safety Summit” and outlined eight priority areas for enhancing passenger carrier transportation which included an increased focus on new entrants that would require them to receive training and pass minimum standards; State-mandated annual bus inspection programs; and, possibly requiring electronic on-board recorders to monitor bus driver hours of service.
“While the industry is generally safe, we still need to focus on reducing risk and this clearly confirms there are a number of things we need to work on,” said CVSA Executive Director Stephen F. Campbell. “This provides all stakeholders more focus and direction on where we need to put our efforts. We can never be complacent about safety”
During the two-day work session, held in Arlington, VA, representatives from CVSA, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and transportation operators, manufacturers, provincial, state and local government, brokers and insurers participated in the dialogue. The latest passenger carrier research, statistics and updates on relevant programs, projects, crash investigations, regulatory, legislative, research and policy activities were provided, and recommendations were debated as to where the focus should lie.
"I commend CVSA for their leadership in the area of improving bus safety," said NTSB Board Member Debbie Hersman. "With the number of fatalities in bus accidents reaching unprecedented levels last year, we need commitment and follow-through from all involved in the Summit to make progress."
The information below is the result of a breakout session at the end of the CVSA Bus Safety Summit where the attendees were asked to identify and prioritize issues/concerns regarding Bus/Motorcoach Safety. They include, in order of priority:
- Having new bus entrants pass minimum standards and receive training;
- Mandating State Annual Bus Inspection Programs;
- Requiring EOBRs to monitor Bus Driver Hours of Service;
- Providing training for drivers and enforcement and install technology to prevent bus fires;
- Providing Driver Training;
- Identifying and Interdicting bus companies that are flying under the radar;
- Making Medical Certification requirements more stringent (i.e. cardiovascular, diabetes, sleep issues, etc.); and,
- Holding Passenger Carriers to higher standards.
The outcomes from the Summit are being used to formulate an action plan for CVSA to work with its partners in putting into place practical and real solutions to address the most pressing needs for enhancing bus safety.
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA visit www.cvsa.org.
