GRAPEVINE -- Owners of long-distance bus companies called for tougher enforcement of existing laws governing how many hours a bus driver can remain behind the wheel instead of tougher new federal regulations.
But several drivers say enforcement by itself isn't enough, and they called for a change in federal rules that would reduce how long they can work without sleep.The differing attitudes about how to combat driver fatigue, and therefore improve safety for bus passengers and other motorists, were on display Monday during a daylong hearing in Grapevine hosted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration."Many of us ... work very hard to develop good practices to stay within the rules. It's frustrating to see those companies who work hard to circumvent those rules continue to operate," said Buddy Young, owner of Capitol Bus Lines in West Columbia, S.C., who called for a crackdown on companies that flout safety rules."It gives all of us a black eye in the industry," Young said. "It takes away the general public's view of what we do."But several drivers of buses, or motor coaches, testified that they'd like to see stronger restrictions on the hours that they can work without a mandatory break. At particular risk are school groups that travel overnight to save money, said Woody Bohley, a St. Louis-area bus driver."They're basically using the motor coach as a motel," Bohley said. Drivers of school groups must often drive entire shifts at night, even though their sleep cycle isn't used to those hours, he said.Unlike freight truck drivers, who according to federal rules must drive no more than 11 hours in a 14 hour period before taking a mandatory 10 hours off, bus drivers are often required by their employers to split their work shifts over long periods.Bus drivers can work no more than 10 hours in a 15-hour work shift -- but, unlike freight drivers, their 15 hours don't have to be consecutive. For example, a driver might take a group on a five-hour, out-of-town trip, then spend six hours off duty -- while waiting for the group -- before making the five-hour return trip, all the while accumulating only 10 hours of work time over 16 hours."It's kind of a floating 15 hours, as opposed to a fixed 14 hours for freight truck drivers," said Larry Minor, associate administrator for policy for the bus safety administration. Drivers are guaranteed only an eight-hour break after a work shift.The hearing was held at the same time as the American Bus Association Marketplace, an annual gathering of bus operators and tour companies. Ridership on long-distance buses is up for the fifth straight year, according to a DePaul University study.With nearly 750 million passenger trips per year, it's a form of transportation that is growing in popularity as Americans seek alternatives to driving or flying. Also, motor coaches are offering free Wi-Fi access, electrical plugs and other amenities.But several recent fatal crashes involving motor coaches have drawn attention to safety. On Sunday, two people were killed and 32 injured after a Rimrock Stages bus crashed in Montana, according to news reports. Authorities are investigating whether icy weather was a factor.In North Texas, 17 Vietnamese pilgrims from the Houston area were killed when a bus crashed near Sherman in 2008. A National Transportation Safety Board investigation concluded that a punctured retreaded tire probably caused the crash.The bus safety administration is just gathering input about work hours and has no immediate plans to change the rules, said Jack Van Steenburg, chief safety officer.Gordon Dickson, 817-390-7796, Twitter: @gdicksonHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
