NY senators call for new bus-safety law

Both of New York's senators Wednesday called for passage of a new law requiring private bus operators to improve commercial driver training, install safer seating systems and make vehicles sturdier in the wake of two recent bus accidents that left 17 people dead.

"The tragedy of two fatal crashes in just four days make a thorough, industrywide review of bus safety standards by NTSB even more important," said Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat and co-sponsor of the Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act along with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

Gillibrand, also a Democrat, said in a joint statement: "We can't wait for another deadly bus crash to increase protections for consumers and ensure bus safety."

But Godfrey LeBron, president of the Bus Association of New York State, said a new law would be redundant if the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which is part of the Department of Transportation and regulates private coaches, adopts proposed rules that already address similar issues.

LeBron, who owns Paradise Trailways, a 15-bus fleet based in Hicksville, said, "I don't see the sense in reinventing the wheel.

"We are in complete agreement with them about driver training and education."

FMCSA officials could not be reached for comment.

Schumer, however, said the proposed changes should become law. "The safety of New Yorkers is too important to not give these regulations the force of law," he said.

The proposed legislation, originally sponsored by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), and Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia) would establish more driver training and a registry to require medical personnel to examine drivers. It would also create mandated validation of medical certificates and beef up vehicle inspections.

The senators called for the new law in the wake of the World Wide Tour bus crash in the Bronx on Saturday and the crash Monday of a Super Luxury Tour bus in New Jersey.