FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 11, 2008
CONTACT: Matt Mackowiak
Sens. Hutchison, Brown Urge Passage of Bus Safety Bill
Call on Congress to Help Prevent Further Tragedies by Making Legislation a Priority
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today called on the Senate to immediately take up and pass a motorcoach safety bill when Congress reconvenes in September. Sen. Hutchison and Sen. Brown introduced the measure to help reduce deaths and injuries caused by motorcoach accidents. In the past week alone, there have been three major motorcoach accidents in Texas, Mississippi, and Nevada, collectively causing 20 fatalities and dozens of injuries.
“Last week, a bus accident claimed the lives of 17 Texans who were traveling by motorcoach to a religious festival. Such tragedies are becoming all too common, and many of these deadly accidents are preventable,” said Sen. Hutchison, who is the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. “Sen. Sherrod Brown and I have introduced legislation to help reduce fatalities in future motorcoach accidents, and I urge Congress to make this a priority after the August recess so the roads will be safer for everyone.”
“Congress must move quickly to pass comprehensive passenger safety standards for motorcoaches,” said Sen. Brown. “I'm encouraged that my colleagues recognized this need and scheduled a hearing on our bill. Swift congressional action will prevent more bus trips from becoming tragedies.”
The Brown-Hutchison legislation, The Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2007 (S. 2326), would require the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to upgrade federal safety standards applicable to motorcoaches and take action to improve the operational requirements of drivers and companies. The legislation would lead to the adoption of available safety technologies, result in stronger oversight and compliance with federal safety rules, and encourage better training of motorcoach operators to protect passengers from death and injury due to ejection, rollover, roof crush, and fires.
The DOT does not require basic occupant protection safety features for motorcoaches. The National Transportation Safety Board has made numerous safety recommendations to improve motorcoach safety, including promoting such critical features as safety belts, occupant advanced glazing on windows and other ejection prevention countermeasures, protection against dangerous motorcoach interior impacts, crush-resistant roofs, and protection against fires. These recommendations have languished for years without federal agency attention and action.
The Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security is scheduled to hold an oversight hearing on bus safety on September 18, 2008.
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