NTSB -- NTSB CHAIRMAN PROVIDES UPDATE ON ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS DURING SENATE HEARING ON MOTORCOACH SAFETY

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NTSB PRESS RELEASE

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 30, 2011

SB-11-11

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NTSB CHAIRMAN PROVIDES UPDATE ON ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS

DURING SENATE HEARING ON MOTORCOACH SAFETY

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In testimony before a U.S. Senate committee hearing on

motorcoach safety today, NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman

released new factual information uncovered during the

investigation of three recent motorcoach accidents that

killed a total of 17 people since March 12.

Her remarks at the "Hearing on Ensuring the Safety of our

Nation's Motorcoach Passengers" held by the Subcommittee on

Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure,

Safety, and Security (Committee on Energy & Commerce) today

are provided below:

Chairman Lautenberg, Ranking Member Thune, and Members of

the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to address

motorcoach safety, which has been spotlighted with recent

crashes in New York, New Jersey, and New Hampshire. These

accidents claimed 17 lives and injured 87 people.

We immediately launched an investigation into the March 12

fatal accident on I-95 in the Bronx.

And, while it is too soon to determine the cause of this

accident, which killed 15 people and injured 18 more, here's

what I can tell you:

Around 5:30 a.m., a motorcoach was returning to New York

from a Connecticut casino, traveling at up to 78 miles per

hour, when it departed the travel lanes to the right,

crossed over a paved shoulder, and struck a roadside

barrier.

The bus then traveled nearly 500 feet while rolling over

until colliding with a 9-inch diameter highway signpost.

The impact drove the pole through the bus's windshield,

severing the roof panel from the body for nearly the length

of the bus.

We interviewed the bus driver, who said there were no

mechanical problems, but reported a truck was involved. We

also interviewed a truck driver who turned himself in; he

said he witnessed the bus crash in front of him. An NTSB

engineer examined the truck and found no evidence to

indicate the truck had come in contact with the bus. We also

found that a video camera was mounted on the motorcoach

windshield. However, it did not record the accident.

With our limited resources in our Highway Office, we are

selective about where we launch a full team in order to

maximize our impact on highway safety. While we launched a

full investigation into the Bronx accident, for the New

Jersey and New Hampshire accidents we are conducting a

focused investigation of the two motorcoach companies'

safety performance.

The New Jersey crash occurred on March 14 when a motorcoach,

on a scheduled run from New York City to Philadelphia,

departed the roadway and struck a concrete headwall of the

New Jersey Turnpike. The bus re-entered and crossed the

roadway and came to rest after striking an embankment. The

driver and one passenger were killed and 44 people were

injured.

On March 22, near Littleton, New Hampshire, the driver of a

motorcoach traveling on I-93 from Quebec to Boston

reportedly lost control and departed the roadway to the

left. The bus went down an embankment and rolled onto its

left side. All 25 occupants were injured.

The NTSB has issued many motorcoach safety recommendations

based on our accident investigations. Three of those issues

are on our Most Wanted List:

First, occupant protection - including stronger roofs,

window emergency exit redesign, and standards for passenger

seating compartments.

Second, better Government oversight of operators - to ensure

that both the operational status of vehicles and their

drivers are safe.

And, finally, implementing advanced vehicle technologies -

to prevent accidents from occurring in the first place,

including lane-departure warning, electronic stability

control, and forward-collision warning systems.

The DOT currently has rulemaking underway, and the proposed

actions, when implemented, will improve motorcoach safety.

After 10 years on our Most Wanted List, these actions still

are not final. There has been no sense of urgency on these

recommendations. The names and locations of the accidents

change but the solutions are the same.

We share your concerns about the safety of motorcoaches and

heavy vehicles operating on our nation's highways. This is

why the NTSB is convening a public forum on May 10 and 11 to

review motorcoach and truck safety.

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Chairman Hersman's written testimony is available at

http://go.usa.gov/2VR

Press release announcing truck and bus safety forum:

http://go.usa.gov/2VE

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NTSB Media Contact: Peter Knudson

(202) 314-6100

peter.knudson@xxxxxxxx

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