NTSB -- NTSB ANNOUNCES A FORUM TO REVIEW THE PROGRESS OF TRUCK AND BUS SAFETY DURING THE PAST DECADE

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NTSB PRESS RELEASE

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 23, 2011

SB-11-10

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NTSB ANNOUNCES A FORUM TO REVIEW THE PROGRESS OF TRUCK AND

BUS SAFETY DURING THE PAST DECADE

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Washington, D.C. - As part of its continued focus on large

truck and bus safety, the National Transportation Safety Board

(NTSB) will convene a public forum May 10-11, 2011, 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 will focus on such issues as government oversight,

carrier operations, driver training and licensing, driver

safety and health, and enhanced vehicle safety technologies.

"As evidenced by the recent tragic accidents in New York and

New Jersey, there is still a lot of work to do in the area of

highway safety," said Member Sumwalt. "During this forum, we

will review the effectiveness of established programs as well

as new initiatives in motor carrier operations and vehicle

safety to ensure we are doing all we can to make our nation's

highways safer."

In the decade since the NTSB held its hearings on truck and

bus 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.

"We will certainly use this forum to review our advances over

the last ten years, but more importantly, we will use it as an

opportunity to generate new ideas that will lead to future

successes in truck and bus safety," said Member Sumwalt.

Representatives from federal and state agencies, the trucking

and bus industries, unions, and advocacy groups will serve as

panelists during the forum.

The forum will be held at the NTSB's Board Room and Conference

Center, located at 429 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C.

The public can view the forum in person or by live webcast

on the NTSB's website. As soon as they are available, an

agenda and webcast details will be posted on the Board's

website on the Truck and Bus Safety Forum web page.

Media contact: Keith Holloway (202) 314-6100

hollowk@xxxxxxxx

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