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Senator Frank Lautenberg (D., NJ) is planning to hold hearings to find out why bus safety rules that were proposed in 2009 have not been implemented. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, there were two bus crashes last week that may have been preventable if these rules had been followed.
The U.S. Department of Transportation proposed changes to rules after an increase in bus accident fatalities. Those rules include passenger seat belts, prohibiting cell phone use by drivers, requiring onboard recording devices, increasing crush resistance of roofs, and investigating bus companies who change names. More than half of bus crashes between 1998 and 2008 were from driver-related causes.
One important rule regarding drivers is that a driver cannot drive a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle more than 10 hours after 8 consecutive hours off duty. They also can’t drive after having been on duty 15 hours after 8 consecutive hours off duty. http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/outreach/bus/bus.htm
Texting while driving is also prohibited and any commercial bus driver who does this will be subject to a fine. Research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus accident, you will need an attorney who is experienced in bus accident cases. If the driver is determined to have been at fault, the bus company could be held liable. The bus company could also be held liable if the accident was the result of poor vehicle maintenance. Cherry Injury Law will investigate what caused the accident and help you get the compensation you deserve. Call today for a free consultation.