NTSB publishes recommendations for improving motorcoach safety

The National Transportation Safety Board on Jan. 4 issued 19 safety recommendations (.pdf file) intended to improve motorcoach safety.

The recommendations relate to a Jan. 2, 2008, motorcoach rollover crash that resulted in one fatality. NTSB determined the probable cause of the crash was the driver, who had fallen asleep and allowed the motorcoach to partially drift. When the driver awoke, he overcorrected the motorcoach, causing it to overturn. Passengers were not wearing safety belts; 46 were injured.

NTSB recommendations were directed at the International Registration Plan Inc., the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Recommendations for FMCSA include directing revision of federal regulations for passenger motor carriers and other changes to identify noncompliant passenger motor carriers. NTSB also reissued a recommendation for an interim rule that would include all violations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations in the current compliance review process until FMCSA implements its Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 initiative.