Despite being one of the safest modes of travel, there are still many improvements that can be made to make motorcoach travel safer, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker told a Senate subcommittee.

Testifying before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee's Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security, Rosenker highlighted the need for improvements in motorcoach occupant protection systems, strengthened government oversight of operators and more rapid deployment of advanced motorcoach safety technologies.

"These passengers are often students or elderly persons who rely on motorcoach travel and have placed their safety in the hands of a professional motorcoach operator," said Rosenker. "That factor demands that motorcoaches meet the highest level of safety."

Motorcoach passenger safety continues to be a focus of the agency because of the critical importance of this issue and the lack of substantive progress on its recommendations.