ABA: Motorcoach drivers deserve same protections as pilots, rail operators

Testifying this week at a hearing of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, American Bus Association President Peter J. Pantuso said that motorcoach drivers deserve the same legal protections afforded to other licensed transportation operators. Motorcoach drivers undergo extensive training and certification programs in order to be licensed to operate a bus, he said, making them equally critical to passenger safety and national security as pilots and railroad operators. Inconsistent sentencing guidelines among various transportation modes might be interpreted by terrorists as a weak link waiting to be exploited, Pantuso explained. Motorcoaches serve national tourist and historical sites, as well as commuter and airport shuttle lines and given the potential for these sites to be targeted, the punishment for criminal acts must be consistent in all transportation sectors.