According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 254 people died and another 20,000 were injured in bus accidents in 2009. On average, big tour and charter bus accidents account for 20 deaths per year. Since February 2011, however, several major incidents have taken place with more than 20 fatalities and over 100 injuries. The urgency of charter bus safety issues remains in the traffic safety spotlight, and the recent fatal crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike brings this point home.
At approximately 7:20 am on the Morning of June 28, 2011, a Mr. Ho Charter Bus was traveling eastbound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The charter bus, driven by a new driver, was following a loaded flatbed trailer. As the trailer, made its way toward the Somerset County line, the bus slammed into it. The impact was so hard that a 100-foot skid mark was left on the roadway. Fifty-eight people were on board. The newly hired driver was killed and 24 passengers, including a second newly hired driver, were injured.
The Ho Charter Bus Service has a small fleet of vehicles. While the company has not had an accident in two years, it was cited for violations in 2009 and 2011. Following the June 27 crash, an additional inquiry revealed that the company did not conduct federally mandated substance abuse screenings on the new drivers and that the drivers' duty status records were falsified.
As a result of a number of issues, the FMCSA entered an Operations Out of Service Order against the Bethlehem based carrier. In order for the company to resume operations, it must take several corrective actions, including the installation of Automatic On Board Recording Devices (AOBRD).
The federal government has implemented several programs, including the Compliance, Safety Accountability initiative, to improve commercial vehicle safety and prevent mass transit accidents. These programs aim to put tougher enforcement measures and safety models in place, such as better on-duty record keeping, public scrutiny of safety records and compliance checks.
While these programs should reduce the risk for bus crashes, accidents will still occur. No matter what the cause; defective equipment, risky driver behaviors, impaired or distracted driving; anyone injured in a bus accident should consult with a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney will help ensure that victims' rights are protected and that they receive the compensation they deserve.
