S. 2326 would improve the safety of motorcoaches.
Detailed 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.
Requires the Secretary to complete, and report to Congress on, a study on improving bus crashworthiness, bus crash avoidance, and bus fire protection and passenger evacuation.
Amends 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.
Requires a state to carry out an annual commercial motor vehicle inspection program in order to receive a grant for the development or implementation of programs for improving motor carrier safety.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 9/18/2008: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security. Hearings held.
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!!!!!!
Points Against
Visitor Comments
Brian
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
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
Washington "politics" is abhorrent!
Enact the will of the people, not the personal agenda of a politician.
Vote the bill in.
pam
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
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
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
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
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
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
It saves lives why should you need anymore reason than that.
Jim
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
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
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
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
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
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
I STRONGLY agree with this bill.
Keith
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
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
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
I support this bill.It is a very good idea, and it will keep motorcoach passengers safer.
Karen
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
I support the bill. Help make travel safer for motor coach riders.
Edie
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
Please support this much needed bill. The fewer families that have to experience the loss/injury of a loved one the better.
Jesse
Please support, thi sbill is important. My brother past in a bus crash with no seat belts
Mike
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?