More oversight for tour buses
The aftermath of the deadly bus crash on March 12 on Interstate 95. Credit: WABC-TV, AP
Tour bus accidents that claimed 17 lives in recent days should, at long last, rouse officials to make sure the cheap, popular transit is safe.
Applications for commercial driver's licenses need to be screened more carefully, bus companies should hire more selectively, and federal officials should shake their bureaucratic lethargy and toughen safety standards for the coaches.
Regulatory shortcomings were tragically highlighted March 12, when a tour bus flipped over on the New York State Thruway in the Bronx, killing 15 people.
The driver, Ophadell Williams, who has a record of convictions for manslaughter and grand larceny, made false statements on his driver's license applications that went undetected. He may also have concealed violations for speeding, using an alias and driving with a suspended license.
A March 14 bus crash on the New Jersey Turnpike took two more lives. The bus's owner-operator has one of the nation's worst driver-safety records, the U.S. Department of Transportation said.
Rules developed by the department in 2009 to improve coach safety have yet to be adopted. Reforms, such as mandated training for drivers, safety belts and stronger seats, and crush-resistant roofs to withstand rollovers, have now been proposed in U.S. Senate legislation. These commonsense reforms should be adopted.
The tour bus business is booming. Officials should ensure the ride isn't a death-defying adventure.
