Resources Safety Related Articles NTSB Removes School Bus Passenger Protection from 'Most Wanted List'
NTSB Removes School Bus Passenger Protection from 'Most Wanted List' PDF Print E-mail
Written by Ryan Gray   
Thursday, 18 February 2010 14:50
seatbeltThe 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.

Tags: