Federal safety regulators recently shut down 26 bus operations, declaring them imminent hazards to public safety.
The crackdown, prompted by a series of deadly bus crashes last spring, was the largest of its kind, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). “These aggressive enforcement actions against unsafe bus companies send a clear signal: If you put passengers’ safety at risk, we will shut you down,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “Safety is and will always be our highest priority. As Cape Coral accident attorneys, we are concerned by the number and the seriousness of the safety violations cited by the DOT.
Over the course of a yearlong investigation, investigators uncovered multiple safety violations, including a continuous pattern of using drivers without valid commercial driver's licenses and failure to have alcohol and drug testing programs. In addition, the companies operated vehicles that had not been regularly inspected and repaired. The companies’ drivers also had serious hours-of-service and driver qualification violations.
For Florida bus riders concerned about their safety, there are steps you can take to verify the track record of a particular bus company.
The DOT’s SaferBus app allows passengers to review the following information before they board:
- Bus Company Operating Authority and Insurance Status: The app alerts consumers about illegal interstate bus companies that should not be operating.
- View Bus Safety Performance Records: The app gives easy and user-friendly access to up to 24 months of a bus company’s safety performance data. The higher the percentage in any category, the higher the potential safety risks.
- Bus Company Safety Results: The app alerts consumers to bus companies with an unsatisfactory safety rating.
The Dellutri Law Group is focused on making bad situations better and putting lives back together. If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a Cape Coral accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. To learn more about your legal options, contact our experienced Cape Coral injury attorneys for a free consultation.
