FMCSA holds bus summit, launches surprise safety inspection

Maria

Diet Coke
Staff member
WASHINGTON — Federal, state and local police began conducting thousands of surprise safety inspections of motorcoaches, tour buses, school buses and other passenger vehicles across the country Friday as the national Motorcoach Safety Summit, sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), kicked off here.

"This summit is about preventing needless tragedies and saving lives," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. "We've seen the horrific consequences when motorcoach companies do not make safety a top priority. With everyone at the table, we can achieve our shared goal of raising the safety bar for the motorcoach industry."

The strike force, launched in coordination with today's summit, is part of FMCSA's nationwide Passenger Carrier Strike Force. The two-week inspection sweep will continue through Oct. 7, 2011.

FMCSA also announced that it will release a new smartphone application that will empower consumers with quick and easy access to a motorcoach company's safety record before booking a trip.

The smartphone application, which will be released in November, will also allow the public to submit any safety violation to FMCSA's National Consumer Compliant Database.

During the day-long Motorcoach Safety Summit, safety leaders will discuss DOT's intermodal approach to strengthening motorcoach safety, followed by a panel highlighting the perspectives of individuals responsible for the day-to-day safety of motorcoach passengers, vehicles and drivers.

In the afternoon, summit participants will focus on tough safety issues such as how to develop and train professional bus drivers, Hours of Service requirements for passenger buses and effective public outreach tools that encourage consumers to choose a safe motorcoach company, every trip, every time.

"Today, we are sending a clear message that safety must be the driving force within the motorcoach industry," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "With the robust feedback, ideas and partnerships developed at this summit, we will be better equipped to raise the safety bar and safety culture within the motorcoach industry. The public deserves no less."

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