WASHINGTON -- The American Bus Association said a proposed
Transportation Department rule to sideline tired commercial vehicle
drivers imposes new regulations on the motorcoach industry despite
its safety record.
The ABA contends that the motorcoach industry's safety record is
significantly better than that of commercial truckers.
According to the ABA, DOT figures show many highway accidents,
resulting in an estimated 755 fatalities annually, are due to
drowsy or fatigued commercial motor vehicle drivers. By contrast,
ABA said, the motorcoach industry averages four fatalities a
year.
ABA president Peter Pantuso said the new DOT rule "completely
overlooks both the safety performance and hours-of-service
compliance record of America's bus industry. Bus travel is already
safe."
Furthermore, ABA said the rule could "devastate" the motorcoach
industry by "increasing driver-scarcity problems, lowering salaries
of drivers overall by cutting their hours and diminishing consumer
choice by forcing the discontinuation of routes rendered
economically nonviable."
Pantuso also criticized the DOT for proposing a rule "without
any data to support an exorbitant revamping of the nation's safe
intercity bus operators."
The proposed Hours of Service rule would update current
regulations -- dating back to 1962 -- that allow drivers to drive
for up to 10 hours after eight consecutive hours off-duty.
Those on duty for 15 hours cannot drive without taking another
eight consecutive hours off-duty.
The new rule would set scheduling, dispatching and operating
practices to minimize the use of tired, inattentive drivers.
The rule also would set a minimum off-duty, rest period of time
each workday and workweek for drivers; make available for each
driver an additional minimum off-duty period of time each workday,
during the workday or afterwards; to allow a driver to tend to
personal necessities and rest at the driver's discretion, and
empower drivers to accept or refuse dispatch or continuation of a
trip based upon the driver's assessment of his/her alertness
level.
The motorcoach industry has about 90 days to comment on the
rule. In the meantime, Pantuso has renewed his call for the
government to regulate the motorcoach industry separately from the
commercial truckers.