The National Transportation Safety Board cited sufficient response by the feds over the past two years in enhancing school bus passenger protection but said several safety issues are still outstanding when it comes to commercial vehicles.
NTSB lauded a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requirement for three-point lap/shoulder seat belts in all Type A school buses manufactured after September 2011, similar specifications for voluntary lap/shoulder systems in larger buses and higher seat backs for school buses when reviewing its "Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements" today during a board meeting in Washington, D.C. The school bus recommendation was specifically for reducing student injuries and deaths in frontal-, side- and rear-impact crashes.
However, the NTSB Board said progress was lacking on a previously made recommendation to NHTSA that it increase motorcoach passenger protection. NTSB found that NHTSA has made insufficient progress in redesigning window emergency exits for easy egress, strengthening standards for bus roofs and protecting passenger from ejections by enhancing window glazing. It also said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has been too slow in preventing registered motor carriers from operating motorcoaches with mechanical problems or in disallowing unqualified drivers from getting behind the wheel.
NTSB also said FMCSA's response to requiring electronic onboard data recorders remains unacceptable despite proposing limited use of EOBRs. A final rule requiring EOBRs is still pending as it awaits approval at the Department of Transportation.
Regarding cell phone usage by motorcoach and school bus drivers, NTSB said some progress was being made by the Department of Transportation and the FMCSA, though not as much or as quickly as is necessary. Federal guidance was issued last month on developing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to prohibit commercial vehicle operators, including some school bus drivers subject to FMCSA guidelines, from texting while driving.
Last fall, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood also hosted a first-of-its-kind Distracted Driving Summit that brought attention to the problem of using cell phones and other wireless communication devices while driving. During the event, LaHood specifically said the feds would pursue a cell phone ban for all school bus drivers as well as newly licensed teen drivers.
Another issue upgraded from unacceptable to progressing slowly is a recommendation that FMCSA step up its enforcement to prevent medically unqualified drivers from operating commercial vehicles. NTSB closed two of the eight recommendations, namely that FMCS developing a comprehensive medical oversight program. Another recommendation NTSB said the use of adaptive cruise control and collision warning technologies to prevent certain crashes was also progressing slowly
"Enhance Protection for School Bus Passengers" - The Board
has recommended that the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration devise new standards to protect school bus
passengers from being ejected from their seats or the bus
during frontal, side or rear-impact accidents. NHTSA has
issued a final rule that increases seatback height, and
established performance specifications for voluntarily
installed seat belts. As a result, the Safety Board has
closed the two recommendations in this issue area and
removed it from the Most Wanted list.
"Enhance Protection for Motorcoach Passengers" - The Board
recommends that motorcoach window emergency exits be
redesigned for easy egress, that standards for bus roofs be
strengthened, and that new standards be devised to protect
motorcoach passengers from being ejected. The designation
was downgraded from Yellow to Red, due to the lack of
progress on this issue.
"Require Electronic Onboard Data Recorders" - This renamed
issue area seeks to improve hours of service monitoring for
commercial drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration has proposed limited use of EOBRs, and the
Board has therefore kept the designation at Red.
"Improve the Safety of Motor Carrier Operations" - The
Board's recommendation is aimed at preventing motor carriers
from operating if they put vehicles with mechanical problems
on the road or unqualified drivers behind the wheel. Due to
FMCSA's continuing slow progress on this issue, the
designation was downgraded from Yellow to Red.
"Prevent Medically Unqualified Drivers from Operating
Commercial Vehicles" - Based on its investigations of
accidents involving drivers with serious medical conditions,
the NTSB has determined that serious flaws exist in the
medical certification process for commercial vehicle
drivers. Two of the 8 recommendations in this area -
dealing with FMCSA developing a comprehensive medical
oversight program that contains several elements - were
closed by the Board, and the designation was upgraded from
Red to Yellow.
"Prevent Collisions by Using Enhanced Vehicle Safety
Technology" - The Safety Board has recommended the use of
adaptive cruise control and collision warning technologies
to improve highway safety. A Department of Transportation
analysis has shown that 48 percent of accidents could be
prevented by the use of certain collision warning systems.
The designation on this issue remains Yellow.
"Prohibit Cell Phone Use by Motorcoach Drivers" - The Board
believes commercial drivers at the wheels of motorcoaches
and school buses should be prevented from using cell phones.
With some progress being made by the Department of
Transportation and FMSCA, the designation remains Yellow.
INTERMODAL
"Reduce Accidents and Incidents Caused by Human Fatigue in
the Marine, Aviation and Pipeline Industries" - The Safety
Board has long been concerned about the effects of fatigue
on persons performing critical functions in all modes of
transportation. The Board believes that working hour limits
should be based on the latest fatigue research. For both
the aviation and marine modes, the Board believes the
actions of the FAA and the U.S. Coast Guard are
unacceptable, and maintained designations for both at Red.
