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S. 2326, The Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2007
- This item is from the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and is no longer current. Comments, voting, and wiki editing have been disabled, and the cost/savings estimate has been frozen.
Comparing revision saved on March 4, 2008, 08:50:26 (Whiteboxer), with revision saved on September 19, 2008, 20:11:12 (webmaster):
S. 2326 would improve the safety of motorcoaches.
== Detailed Summary ==
<summary>
Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to prescribe regulations requiring motorcoaches to be installed with: (1) safety seat belts at each seating position; (2) advanced glazing in each portal to prevent passenger ejection; (3) improved firefighting equipment; and (4) enhanced compartmentalization safety countermeasures and certain other motor vehicle safety features.
The Library ofRequires the Secretary to complete, and report to Congress > THOMAS Home > Bills, Resolutions > Search Resultson, a study on improving bus crashworthiness, bus crash avoidance, and bus fire protection and passenger evacuation.
THIS SEARCH THIS DOCUMENT GO TOAmends federal transportation law to direct the Secretary to prescribe regulations: (1) requiring providers of motorcoach services registered with the the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to undergo periodic safety reviews; (2) establishing a training curriculum and providing certification for each driver of a motorcoach seeking a commercial driver's license (CDL) passenger endorsement; (3) improving CDL testing; (4) requiring a driver of a commercial motor vehicle that transports for compensation not less than 9 and not more than 15 passengers to have a CDL; (5) requiring a federal medical qualification certificate to be made a part of CDLs; (6) requiring the annual review of state licensing authorities to assess the accuracy of physical examination reports and medical certificates of CDL applicants that are submitted by medical examiners to such authorities; and (7) requiring all commercial motor vehicles be equipped with electronic on-board recorders that record driver hours of service. Sets forth a deadline for the Secretary to establish the national registry of medical examiners.
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Contents Display Requires a state to
GPO's PDF Display Referencesthis billcarry out an annual commercial motor vehicle inspection program in the Congressional Record Linkorder to receive a grant for the Bill Summary & Status file. Printer Friendly Displaydevelopment or implementation of
S.2326
Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2007 (Introduced in Senate)
Beginning
November 8, 2007
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Sec. 1. Short title; tablecontents.programs for improving motor carrier safety.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
SEC. 3. REGULATIONS FOR IMPROVED OCCUPANT PROTECTION AND MOTORCOACH CRASH AVOIDANCE.
SEC. 4. STUDY AND REPORT ON IMPROVED BUS CRASHWORTHINESS AND CRASH AVOIDANCE.
SEC. 5. IMPROVED OVERSIGHT OF PROVIDERS OF MOTORCOACH SERVICES AND OF OTHER MOTOR CARRIERS OF PASSENGERS.
SEC. 6. MOTORCOACH DRIVER TRAINING.
SEC. 7. IMPROVED COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE TESTING.
SEC. 8. IMPROVED PHYSICAL FITNESS OVERSIGHT AND COMMERCIAL DRIVER MEDICAL CERTIFICATES.
SEC. 9. SAFETY ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE DRIVER FATIGUE.
SEC. 10. COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION PROGRAMS.
SEC. 11. REGULATIONS.
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Contents Display
</summary>
<!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. -->
== Status of the Legislation ==
<status>
Latest Major Action: 11/8/2007: Referred to9/18/2008: Senate committee.committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.Transportation Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security. Hearings held.
</status>
<!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. -->
== Points in Favor ==
I totally agree with this bill--there is a seat belt law and what gets me is that when that seat belt law was passed no one went and changed the charter buses or school buses to accomomidate these changes, yet there are students on school buses sitting three to four in a seat due to the fact they do not have enough transportation for these youngsters--this is so sad with all the money the government has--they can make sure that our children are safe according to the seat belt law for which was passed--make sure our children are safe when riding on these charter buses and school buses-make sure there are no more than two students sitting in a seat at a time for their safety--make sure the shoulder seat belts are placed on all charter buses and school buses...
You passed the seat belt law now stick to it!!!!!!!!!!!!
My condolences to all whom had lost their child/children on charter buses or school buses due to a simple law not being followed to protect them. Wake up America!!!!!!
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== Points Against ==
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Visitor Comments
Brian
December 10, 2007, 12:27am (report abuse)This Bill when passed will help save lives. I lost a brother in a tragic motorcoach accident and can not say enough good things about the changes that are being recommended here.
John
December 11, 2007, 9:32pm (report abuse)This bill is long overdue.
The NTSB has made these recommendations over the past 40 years.How many lives lost or those seriously injured could have been avoided if these recommendations were implemented.Stop the excuses get it done.
Gerry
December 12, 2007, 10:31am (report abuse)Washington "politics" is abhorrent!
Enact the will of the people, not the personal agenda of a politician.
Vote the bill in.
pam
December 12, 2007, 7:17pm (report abuse)Passengers on motorcoaches must
have the same safety options they
have on other types of transportation. The first motorcoach company that can market itself as the "safest" in the industry because it offers seat belts will be ahead of the curve on this issue.3cr
thomas
December 20, 2007, 7:32pm (report abuse)The same objections people are raising about this bill echo the
objections once raised about automobile safety standards. Yet, those standards have saved hundreds of thousands of lives.
Let's not delay this any longer.
Ann
December 20, 2007, 7:39pm (report abuse)My friend is an engineer for one of the big three auto makers. She
says that not only are these safety
standards reasonable to implement but also that they have been on the
table for years.
Joy
December 21, 2007, 7:45pm (report abuse)Passengers on motorcoaches need the same level of safety offered to passengers of automobiles and airplanes. These safety standards need to be implemented now, before any more lives are lost.
teresa bettscobau
December 22, 2007, 10:43am (report abuse)long,long,long overdue......let's start saving lives Now!!! I'm sure the motorcoach industry will pass on the extra cost of adding these seat belts to the consumer....no problem, I'll pay a little extra to save my life or life of others....Bring it on!!!
Jane
December 23, 2007, 7:27pm (report abuse)Of course we can never make everyone completely safe, but this bill will make everyone safer, and when we can do something to make
people safer, we should.
Chad
December 29, 2007, 12:32am (report abuse)It saves lives why should you need anymore reason than that.
Jim
January 1, 2008, 7:35pm (report abuse)As a public school administrator,
I strongly urge these changes which
would help ensure the safety of the
children under my supervision. When
it comes to contracts for field trips, I want to use the safest
motorcoaches.
Bill
January 3, 2008, 7:39pm (report abuse)These recommendations for safety
measures on motorcoaches have been
idling for over a decade. It is time to put things in gear and
accelerate these changes. It is literally a matter of life or death.
Carol
January 5, 2008, 3:01pm (report abuse)Who would want to explain to the families of the next victims of
motorcoach accidents that the safety measures which could have saved their loved ones had been
recommended strongly for years, but
for not implemented? Not I.
Mike
January 11, 2008, 1:40am (report abuse)Are there any studies out there comparing car accidents per million miles to bus accidents per million miles? Without knowing any facts I would argue that we have many more car accidents resulting in serious injury/death than bus accidents resulting in the same. The difference is that when a bus crashes people pay attention because of the size of the vehicle. And the fact that most of the time the victim (passengers) are subject to a professional driver, who in a perfect world should be avoiding most collisions that occur.
Sarah
January 14, 2008, 12:41pm (report abuse)How is riding in a bus any different than in a car? If seat belts in cars are mandatory, why not in buses as well. This bill is long overdue and should not even be an issue, as it only has in mind a riders safety.
Brian
January 14, 2008, 12:42pm (report abuse)The technology exist to make improvements that will save lives, it’s time to make use of this. This bill is long over due! Motor coaches should be treated just as any other means of transportation and its safety of passengers taken seriously.
Julie
January 14, 2008, 1:25pm (report abuse)I STRONGLY agree with this bill.
Keith
January 14, 2008, 2:38pm (report abuse)People against this bill compares car afety to bus safety, and say bus safety is much better. In the statistics, that is correct. However, if putting seatbelts on motorcoaches save 1 or 200 lives, aren't seatbelts worth the price of a life? Please place a higher priority on safety than profit.
Lynn
February 23, 2008, 8:29pm (report abuse)The technology is out there, the recommendations have been made for decades - actually. As a parent of one of the young men on the Bluffton Bus - I would be grateful and consider it a refreshing first if we could put aside the "politics" for a change and do what's right so that I don't have to watch another family or group of families go through what the Bluffton Families have endured for the last year and will continue to endure. This will be a lasting tribute to five fine young men's memories and to the bus driver and his wife that when it comes down to it our elected officials can do what they promise they will do - work to make this a better place to raise our children. Let's step up to the plate for them!
Jen
February 25, 2008, 9:30am (report abuse)As the sister of Lynn who commented above and the Aunt of one of the finest young men you will ever meet,I applaud the efforts of everyone trying to pass this bill. These regulations are simply a 'no-brainer' - it is for the safety of my children and yours. The Bluffton players, families and all people touched by a motorcoach tragedy deserve quick passage of this bill with no pork tagged on that could potentially cause this bill to fail. Please don't play politics with my children's safety!
Brooklynn
February 25, 2008, 3:05pm (report abuse)I support this bill.It is a very good idea, and it will keep motorcoach passengers safer.
Karen
February 28, 2008, 8:34am (report abuse)Pass this bill- Too many motor coach companies 'promise' a NEW DRIVER after 10 hours, NO! We had the same driver for more than 13 hours who explained the Beep- beep I heard repeated all night was not a radar detector- IT WAS THE DEVICE IN HIS EAR TO KEEP HIM AWAKE! Needless to say on our high school band trip coming home- I remained awake sitting directly behind the driver- ready to smack him over the head if he should endanger any of those children! Yes, at about 8 am he was too drowsy again to drive!
Jennie Wright
February 28, 2008, 2:09pm (report abuse)Why stop at just these. We should also include school buses. I have a granddaughter that rides a school bus and I am concerned for her saftey also.
Michelle in Ohio
February 29, 2008, 9:23am (report abuse)Finally, this has been a long time coming and like so many other important legislative projects someone has to die before attention is drawn. I have a disabeled nephew from a drunk driving event and understand first hand the losses involved with tragedy. Why is it that we have seatbelts in vehicles but fail to put them in buses that have more people usually travel further and offer usually a greater risk. Please I implore you to do the right thing and make the world a safer place by implementing this law. Always in safety a concerned mom and coach.
Sappenfield Utah
February 29, 2008, 10:56am (report abuse)For sure this bill should pass. Let's make sure school buses are mandated to have seat belts. If it cost $97 in Oregon to be un-buckled why not the rest of the transportation industry?
Carla
March 1, 2008, 8:30am (report abuse)This bill is long overdue. I travel with large groups of college students on motorcoaches all the time, and every time I step on that bus I feel like I'm stepping into a very unsafe situation for myself and my students. I've seen drivers fall asleep; they've even asked me to keep talking to them so that they stay awake, so I'm particularly interested in the on-board recorders.
Barbra
March 2, 2008, 5:22pm (report abuse)Thanks to all who are behind and endorsing this bill. As I buckle my seat belt when I drive, I often think about those who do not have the option of wearing one in a motorcoach. We seek to protect our children in so many other ways; it's high time to do so by making motorcoaches safer.
marcia
March 2, 2008, 8:57pm (report abuse)I have been riding on a bus before, and I felt so unsafe compared to riding in a car. I hate the hassle of putting on my seatbelt, but it can save my life so I do it. Why is riding in a motorcoach any different?
Carolyn
March 11, 2008, 9:54pm (report abuse)I support the bill. Help make travel safer for motor coach riders.
Edie
March 31, 2008, 5:22pm (report abuse)Europe has safety belts on their commercial motor coaches. Use that as a guide, but PLLEASE MOVE NOW. It's a good bill and it's been tabled too many times.55VIM
Heather
August 26, 2008, 1:28pm (report abuse)Please support this much needed bill. The fewer families that have to experience the loss/injury of a loved one the better.
Jesse
September 17, 2008, 9:26pm (report abuse)Please support, thi sbill is important. My brother past in a bus crash with no seat belts
Mike
September 19, 2008, 2:00pm (report abuse)I am for the increased safety of motorcoaches, however, I'm not sure if seatbelts are the answer. Plus, who will regulate and mandate their use? Will the driver threaten to "turn this bus around" if people aren't using them?