School Bus Transportation News at STN Media

Senate to Take on Motorcoach
Occupant Protection Issue

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 8, 2007) — A crash in March that killed five Bluffton University baseball teammates in March and a bus fire that killed 24 senior citizens who were being evacuated as Hurricane Rita lashed Texas in 2005 prompted a call for a federal law requiring seat belts in motorcoaches.

Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) announced their proposal before the Senate on Thursday.

A statement on Sen. Hutchinson’s Web site said The Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2007, also known as the Brown-Hutchinson legislation, would require the U.S. Department of Transportation to upgrade federal safety standards for motorcoaches engaged in interstate travel and to move toward upgrading Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and operational requirements of drivers and companies.

Then there would be the seat belts themselves, though no mention was made specifically if they would be required to be lap/shoulder belt restraints.

Victor Parra, executive director for the United Motorcoach Association, said the bill is based on policy and not science.

“It’s prescriptive,” said Parra from his office in Alexandria, Va. “Our position is, ‘Look, we are willing to do anything that will enhance occupant protection. But we want science to drive it.’ This (bill) preempts that.”

He pointed out that the Brown's and Hutchinson's language makes no mention of possible 6-G or 10-G sled tests or research into better bonding the large passenger windows, which are prone to popping out during a crash and allowing unrestrained passengers to be ejected. Para then added that UMA has been working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop pulse testing, which was to begin this month, and sled testing by early 2008.

UMA had also been working with Rep. Paul Gilmore, a Republican who represented the congressional district where Bluffton University is located, on crafting legislation that took a scientific approach to enhancing motorcoach occupant safety. But Gilmore was found dead in his apartment on Sept. 5 after returning to Washington following the August congressional recess.

Other proposed federal regulations from the bill would address "anti-ejection safety countermeasures," onboard firefighting equipment, enhanced seating design for compartmentalization, enhanced roof strength, stabilizing equipment to prevent rollovers, improved fuel system integrity, and better passenger evacuation.