Channel 2 Houston [Click2Houston.com]:
Safety Expert:
Research Shows Charter Buses Dangerous
POSTED: 1:39 pm CDT August 29, 2007
UPDATED: 9:20 am CDT August 30, 2007
HOUSTON -- Note: The following
story is a verbatim transcript of an Investigators story that aired
on Wednesday, July 29, 2007, on KPRC Local 2 at 10 p.m.
A charter bus or a school bus -- which
one do you think is the safer choice for a school road trip?
Last night, Local 2 Investigates had
the emotional plea from parents who say charter buses are not safe
enough. Tonight, investigative reporter Amy Davis talks with a top
safety expert who is convinced the government is ignoring research
that could make them much safer. The tragic charter bus crash now
only tells the beginning of the story. Two members of the girls'
soccer team from Beaumont's West Brook High School died. Dozens of
others were hurt. Today, their parents say they wished they knew
then what they know now.
"The appearance of it makes you think
it's an extremely safe vehicle. That's why it was such a surprise to
us when you find out differently," said Jeanette Forman, a parent of
an injured student.
They now believe their girls would
have been safer riding in a school bus instead of charter bus.
They've launched a campaign to
convince Texas schools not to use charter buses and motor coaches
until significant safety changes are made. And they're not alone.
"There's technology out there that's
not required and not being utilized, and as a result, you have a lot
of unsafe motor coaches out on the highways." Jim Hall, former
director National Transportation Safety Board. Hall is the former
director of the National Transportation Board in Washington, D.C. He
led a charter bus safety study back in 1999 urging new standards
like seat belts, rollover roof protection and safety windows for all
charter buses. Hall says little or nothing has changed. "We made a
whole range of recommendations. We're now sitting here almost 10
years later without any action by the federal government to make
those motor coaches safe. That should be unacceptable to all of us,"
he said.
The United Motor Coach Association,
which represents more than 800 bus companies nationwide, says its
buses are safe in both design and in travel. The association
president says it's willing to look at safety changes, but wants
science to back up ideas like seat belts and safety windows. Unlike
school buses, the government has not done any crash tests on charter
buses in 30 years.
Since the Beaumont parents started
their campaign, a state law now requires seat belts in charter buses
carrying students, but it doesn't take effect until 2011.
Just this month, the federal
government announced this plan to address charter bus safety. We'll
keep following it and let you know if and when any major changes are
made nationwide.
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e-mail or call their tipline at (713) 223-TIPS (8477).
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