Motorcoach safety inspections keeping America’s buses safe during National Transportation Week

As I've written previously, DOT is celebrating National Transportation Week by highlighting the many ways we're working to keep America's transportation network and the people who use it safe. And as the peak spring and summer travel season begins, DOT remains committed to pursuing highway safety.

That means ensuring that commercial buses traveling between states are well-maintained and operated by men and women who are alert and driving responsibly. If necessary, that also means removing from our roads any bus or driver that places passengers and other motorists at risk.

That’s why this week, DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), with the help of its state and local law enforcement partners, is conducting safety inspections of motorcoaches, tour buses, school buses, and other commercial passenger buses in 13 states along the East Coast and also in the District of Columbia.

This safety strikeforce is part of FMCSA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen passenger carrier safety nationwide.

As FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro put it, “Our goal is to make bus travel as safe as possible – every trip, every time.”

Over the past five years, FMCSA has doubled the number of bus inspections and comprehensive safety reviews of the nation’s estimated 4,000 commercial passenger bus companies.  Roadside motorcoach inspections have jumped nearly 100 percent, from 12,991 in 2005 to 25,705 in 2010, while full safety reviews are up 128 percent, from 457 in 2005 to 1,042 in 2010.

By significantly increasing bus safety inspections, in 2011 alone, FMCSA was able to put 54 unsafe companies out of service. That's 54 operators whose vehicles and drivers are no longer putting other users of our nation's highways at risk.

We've also made it easier for consumers to make smart safety decisions about their bus travel.  Before reserving or buying a ticket, travelers can use the FMCSA’s new SaferBus app, a quick and free way to review a bus company’s online safety record.

Consumers can also take advantage of FMCSA's bus travel safety checklist on the "Bus/Passenger Carrier Information" website.

Traveling can be stressful enough without adding uncertainty about the safety record of your carrier or its driver. During National Transportation Week—and every week—we hope these safety tools from FMCSA and the inspection efforts of our state and local law enforcement partners help America's passengers board their bus with confidence.