Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

The tour bus crash in Southern California left seven dead and dozens injured. The bus had a history of brake and other maintenance issues that drew scrutiny from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

President Barack Obama nominated Deborah Hersman for a second term on June 28, 2011. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday.

An Amtrak train was traveling from Chicago to Emeryville, Calif., when it was stuck by a truck at about 11:25 a.m. PT on Friday. Numerous fatalities and multiple injuries have been reported.

Highlights 10 safety issues that impact transportation nationwide, including addressing human fatigue, improving bus occupant safety and requiring image and onboard data recorders.

Factual information related to the accident that took place in Doswell, Va. with a Sky Express Inc. motorcoach can be accessed on the NTSB website.

Representatives from federal and state agencies, the trucking and bus industries, unions and advocacy groups will serve as panelists during the forum.

The preliminary factual report on the fatal motorcoach accident in New York City last month involving World Wide Travel may be accessed on the NTSB website. Analysis, conclusions and a determination of probable cause will come at a later date.

The new Board Order stipulates that future lists would be limited to a maximum of 10 issue areas, each supported by recommendations, and that the formerly separate state and federal Most Wanted Lists be combined into a single, comprehensive list.

Calls for agency to evaluate track occupancy data on a real-time basis in order to detect losses in track occupancy and automatically generate alerts to prompt such actions as immediately stopping train movements or implementing appropriate speed restrictions to prevent collisions.

Lack of adequate sleep affected driver’s awareness of his vehicle's excessive speed and lane position on a downhill mountain grade of a rural secondary road.