Motorcoach Safety Plan to be Addressed Next Week by Transportation Secretary LaHood

A representative of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services will be among a contingent meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood next week to discuss proposals being considered for FMCSA and NHTSA to increase motorcoach safety.

The National Transportation Safety Board earlier this year found that driver fatigue resulted in a January 2008 motorcoach crash in Mexican Hat, Utah that killed nine and injured 34. NTSB has also asked for mandatory seat belts and window glazing on motorcoaches to further protect passengers.

Because many school districts charter motorcoaches to transport students to field trips and athletic events, Derek Graham, past-president of NASDPTS and the student transportation branch chief at the North Carolina Office of Public Instruction, will meet with LaHood along with other transportation stake holders such as the motorcoach industry.

LaHood is expected to discuss his draft action plan to increase safety, which resulted from a study performed over the summer.

LaHood Announces Summit on Distracted Driving

By Lisa Hudson

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Tuesday he intends to gather senior transportation officials, safety advocates, law enforcement representatives, members of Congress and academics who study distracted driving for a September 2009 summit in Washington, D.C. to discuss ideas about how to combat distracted driving.

Developments and updates on the upcoming summit are available from the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) website. You also can get developments on Twitter.

“If it were up to me, I would ban drivers from texting, but unfortunately, laws aren’t always enough,” said Sec. LaHood in a statement. “We’ve learned from past safety awareness campaigns that it takes a coordinated strategy combining education and enforcement to get results. That’s why this meeting with experienced officials, experts and law enforcement will be such a crucial first step in our efforts to put an end to distracted driving.”