INADEQUATE SIGNAGE, TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES CONFUSED DRIVER, CAUSED 2007 ATLANTA MOTORCOACH CRASH, NTSB SAYS

[NTSB Press Releases <NTSBPressReleases@xxxxxxxx>]

Title: INADEQUATE SIGNAGE, TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES CONFUSED DRIVER, CAUSED 2007 ATLANTA MOTORCOACH CRASH, NTSB SAYS

************************************************************
                      NTSB PRESS RELEASE
************************************************************

National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2008
SB-08-32

************************************************************

INADEQUATE SIGNAGE, TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES CONFUSED DRIVER,
CAUSED 2007 ATLANTA MOTORCOACH CRASH, NTSB SAYS

************************************************************

Washington, D.C. - The National Transportation Safety Board
today determined that the probable cause of a crash that
occurred on an elevated highway ramp in Atlanta, Georgia was
the motorcoach driver's mistaking an Interstate high
occupancy vehicle (HOV)-only left exit ramp for an HOV
through lane. Contributing to the driver's mistake was the
failure of the Georgia Department of Transportation to
install adequate traffic control devices to identify and
distinguish the two different HOV lanes. Contributing to the
severity of the accident was the motorcoach's lack of an
adequate occupant protection system.

"This accident demonstrates the need for clear and
consistent highway signage and traffic devices across the
U.S. interstate system, in order to provide reliable
guidance to all motorists on our nation's highways," said
Mark V. Rosenker, NTSB chairman. "In addition, the NTSB
continues to call for a motorcoach passenger protection
system which could reduce the number of fatalities and the
severity of injuries suffered in accidents like this one in
Atlanta."

On Friday, March 2, 2007, a 2000 VanHool T2145 57-passenger
motorcoach operated by Executive Coach Luxury Travel, Inc.,
transporting 33 members of the Bluffton University (Ohio)
baseball team, exited the HOV lane of Interstate 75 in
Atlanta, Georgia, entered an intersection on an overpass,
overrode a bridge wall, and fell 19 feet onto the southbound
lanes of the Interstate. Seven motorcoach occupants were
killed: the driver, the driver's wife, and five passengers.
Seven other motorcoach passengers received serious injuries,
and 21 passengers received minor injuries.

As a result of its investigation, the NTSB made five
recommendations to the Federal Highway Administration
regarding the uniformity of specific requirements, standards
and criteria in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices. The NTSB also made five recommendations to the
Georgia Department of Transportation regarding signage
improvements.

The Board also reiterated four previous recommendations made
in 1999 to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration regarding the need for improved motorcoach
occupant protection systems and the installation of on-board
recording systems that record vehicle parameters and crash
data.

A synopsis of the Board's report, including the probable
cause and recommendations, is available on the NTSB's
website www.ntsb.gov under "Board Meetings". The Board's
full report will be available on the website in several
weeks.

# # #

Media Contact: Bridget Ann Serchak
                   202.314.6100
                   bridget.serchak@xxxxxxxx

************************************************************

This message is delivered to you as a free service from the
National Transportation Safety Board.

You may unsubscribe at any time at
http://www.ntsb.gov/registration/registration.htm  

An archive of press releases is available at
http://www.ntsb.gov/pressrel/pressrel.htm

Current job opportunities with the NTSB are listed at
http://www.ntsb.gov/vacancies/listing.htm

For questions/problems, contact pubinq@xxxxxxxx