• 30
  • June
    2011

After a string of deadly tour bus crashes across the country, many people are wondering how bus companies with multiple safety citations are allowed to continue to operate. The recent Sky Express bus accident provides a tragic example of what is wrong with the current oversight of bus safety.

Sky Express, a North Carolina bus company, had received an unsatisfactory rating by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in April. The company had an extensive record of safety violations. Although the FMCSA could have shut Sky Express down on May 28, the agency granted the bus operator an extension for 10 days. The FMCSA then checked for further violations, to make sure it had enough evidence to end the company's operations.

It was during those 10 days that a Sky Express bus was in a rollover accident in Virginia. The accident resulted in the death of four passengers and the injuries of many others.

The bus driver has been charged with reckless driving. It has been reported that he was sleep deprived.

Action Being Taken

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood faulted the FMCSA for granting the extension. "On my watch, there will never be another extension granted to a carrier we believe is unsafe," LaHood stated. He plans to put forward a proposal that would allow the FMCSA to shut down bus operators without a more extensive review if they have excessive safety violations.

Federal lawmakers are also putting forward legislation aimed at improving bus safety. Hopefully such measures will make bus travel safer for the estimated 750 million passengers that travel by intercity bus annually.

If you have been injured in a bus accident due to driver recklessness or negligence contact an experienced attorney. A knowledgeable lawyer can evaluate potential claims and help you receive compensation for your suffering.

Source: Safety agency rebuked in deadly bus crash