As part of its continued focus on large bus and truck safety, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will convene a public forum this May in Washington, D.C., to review the progress that has been made  since the NTSB held a series of public hearings on the matter back in 1999-2000.

The forum will be chaired by NTSB Board Member Robert L. Sumwalt and focus on such issues as government oversight, carrier operations, driver training and licensing, driver safety and health, and enhanced vehicle safety technologies.

In the decade since the NTSB held its hearings on bus and truck safety, the NTSB has issued approximately 400 recommendations to help reduce the number of deaths resulting from truck and bus related accidents.  While there has been a general decline in the number of deaths since 1999, thousands are still killed and tens of thousands injured each year in accidents involving large trucks and buses.

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