U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today, April 30, ordered a full departmental review of motorcoach safety. LaHood says a Departmental Motorcoach Safety Action Plan that will be created from the review’s findings will outline the additional steps needed to improve motorcoach safety for the millions of Americans who rely on these vehicles for safe transportation.
“Motorcoaches have been a safe form of transportation in the United States for many years, but even a single crash or accident is unacceptable,” LaHood says. “We will continue our efforts to make them as safe as possible. As Secretary of Transportation, safety is my top priority.”
LaHood says USDOT agencies participating in the creation of the action plan include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The review also will consider outstanding recommendations to USDOT from the National Transportation Safety Board, he says.
The full departmental review follows a recent NTSB hearing concerning a motorcoach crash in Utah in January 2008 that resulted in nine fatalities. The report is expected to be completed and released by August.
