• 03
  • November
    2011

In the past year or so, the commercial bus industry has become the center of a national safety effort. Various fatal bus accidents have occurred, proving that some changes need to be made in order to improve the safety of commercial transportation.

Many people rely on bus transportation in order to get around. They deserve to get to and from work without fearing that their lives are at risk due to preventable causes. The National Transportation Safety Board has conducted a study that suggests to bus users that they should avoid low-fare, curbside service buses if they want to be safer on their commutes.

According to USA Today, the NTSB found the following statistics related to low-fare versus bigger bus company safety during approximately the past six years:

  • Curbside carriers: 1.4 fatal accidents per 100 vehicles
  • Conventional bus companies: 0.2 fatal accidents per 100 vehicles

Another notable statistic according to the NTSB is that there is only an estimated one inspector for every 1,000 bus companies. That is a heavy workload, and the danger of that reported reality is that safety regulations of the commercial bus industry are not strictly adhered to. Busing companies can too easily get away with committing safety violations.

During this past year, widespread inspections of commercial buses have taken place. Officials have found problems ranging from vehicle maintenance issues to bus drivers with backgrounds that should make them ineligible to work in the commercial driving industry and more.

Improving bus safety is a work in progress. The nationwide effort continues to better protect bus passengers and other unsuspecting motorists whose lives are too often affected by negligence related to the commercial busing industry.

Source

USA Today: "Low-fare buses crash more often, NTSB study finds," Ken Valenti, Oct. 31, 2011