While accidents continue to occur because a driver was tired or fell asleep, many in the industry believe revamping federal hours of service regulations is not the answer. An operator’s best course of action is to properly train drivers and manage risks when scheduling trips. Even then, however, the onus remains on the driver to rest.

New programs and proposed rulemaking, such as the FMCSA's CSA program and NHTSA's seat belt rule, are putting the pressure on carriers to take a long, hard look at improving an already safe industry over the next several years.

Peter Pantuso, CTIS, is the president and CEO of the American Bus Association.