by RR Safety
It is interesting that the concept of driver error is creeping up to the most likely cause of the tour bus accident in Arizona outside the Hoover Dam area last weekend. Seven Chinese tourists were killed in the rollover accident. many others were injured. No seat belts were available on the bus for passengers.
Like the Metrolink disaster, driver distraction is the focus of the NHSTA investigation of the bus crash. There is some background info on the Arizona Bus Accident which suggests the bus driver may have even dozed off prior to losing control. Apparently, NHTSA has been trying for years to require seat belts on these tour buses but has received enough push back from the bus industry that it has not happened. Many other countries outside the United States already require seat belts. Sounds a lot like the failure of NHTSA to get automatic stop systems in place for the rail road industry. Regulating safety for all public transit, rail and bus, needs to become a bigger priority for the Obama administration. these are needless deaths which coudl be avoided.
Like the Metrolink disaster, driver distraction is the focus of the NHSTA investigation of the bus crash. There is some background info on the Arizona Bus Accident which suggests the bus driver may have even dozed off prior to losing control. Apparently, NHTSA has been trying for years to require seat belts on these tour buses but has received enough push back from the bus industry that it has not happened. Many other countries outside the United States already require seat belts. Sounds a lot like the failure of NHTSA to get automatic stop systems in place for the rail road industry. Regulating safety for all public transit, rail and bus, needs to become a bigger priority for the Obama administration. these are needless deaths which coudl be avoided.
