White House to Seek Seatbelts in Motocoaches

WASHINGTON, DC – The following information was released by the National Constitution Center:

The Obama administration said Monday it will propose long-sought safety requirements for long-distance buses, including seatbelts and stronger roof standards.

A motorcoach safety plan released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calls for developing performance requirements for bus roofs before the end of this year and issuing a rule by early next year on installation of seatbelts.

Safety advocates have for years urged seatbelts and stronger roofs to prevent passengers from being ejected in rollovers.

Motorcoaches are buses with elevated passenger decks over a baggage compartment. They are widely used for service between cities and by the tour industry.

Other elements of the plan include:

– Requiring devices that record when a bus is turned on or off, in an effort to prevent drivers from operating a bus longer than is allowed. Driver fatigue was cited as a factor in some fatal accidents.

Click here to read more.