UPDATE ON NTSB PUBLIC HEARING ON VICTORIA, TEXAS MOTORCOACH ACCIDENT

[NTSB Press Releases <NTSBPressReleases@xxxxxxxx>]

Title: UPDATE ON NTSB PUBLIC HEARING ON VICTORIA, TEXAS MOTORCOACH ACCIDENT

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                      NTSB ADVISORY
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National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

October 1, 2008

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UPDATE ON NTSB PUBLIC HEARING ON VICTORIA, TEXAS MOTORCOACH
ACCIDENT
Hearing to focus on loopholes that allow registration of
non-compliant foreign vehicles

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Washington, D.C. - The National Transportation Safety Board
today released additional information about the Board's
scheduled public hearing as part of its ongoing
investigation into the cause of a fatal motorcoach accident
that occurred early this year near Victoria, Texas.

The one-and-a-half day hearing will convene at 9:00 a.m. on
October 7, 2008, at the NTSB's Board Room and Conference
Center, 429 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C.

The accident occurred on January 2, 2008 on U.S. Route 59
near Victoria, Texas when the northbound 47-passenger
motorcoach overturned and struck a guardrail.  One passenger
was fatally injured, and 46 passengers and the driver
sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious.  The
motorcoach had entered the country from Mexico and was being
operated by a Houston charter bus company.  The bus was
registered in Texas and was displaying Texas vehicle tags.

The agenda for the hearing, which will focus on the safety
aspects of the inappropriate U.S. entry, registration, and
operation of passenger-carrying commercial vehicles that do
not comply with the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards (FMVSS), may be found as an addendum to this
advisory.

"From our investigation of the Victoria accident, we have
found that some U.S. motorcoach operators may be taking
advantage of loopholes in the system to register foreign-
made motorcoaches in this country, even when the vehicles do
not meet U.S. safety standards," said Member Debbie Hersman,
who will be chairing the hearing. "We will be examining
these apparent loopholes and the verification processes used
to register these vehicles."

Questioning the witnesses will be the Board of Inquiry, a
technical panel composed of the NTSB investigative staff,
and representatives from the following parties: Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration, National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of
Transportation Inspector General, United States Customs and
Border Protection, Volvo/Prevost Car, Inc., American Bus
Association, United Motorcoach Association, and IRP, Inc.

Witnesses at the hearing include representatives from the
following organizations: Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, State of California Department of Motor
Vehicles, State of Texas Department of Transportation, State
of Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Department of
Transportation Inspector General, IRP, Inc., 5 Star
Specialty Programs (division of Crump Insurance Services),
and United States Customs and Border Protection.

Information from the hearing will be used by the Safety
Board to prepare a final report on the accident, including
safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar accidents
in the future.

The link for the hearing webcast may be found on the NTSB website when it
becomes available.

Public Hearing Agenda

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7
-       Opening statement and introductions 
Overview of accident by Investigator in Charge 
General Assessment of Problem Scope
-       Federal, State and local Agency Regarding Cross Border
Operations of U.S. motorcoach operators
-       International Registration Program
-       State Registration Process for Commercial Passenger
Vehicles

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8
-       Identification of non-FMVSS Compliant Passenger-
carrying Vehicles
-  Closing remarks

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

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