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Bus Safety Gets Boost in Texas

The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Bus Association today announced a new bus inspection program designed to improve traffic safety in Texas.

As part of the 90-day pilot program, the DPS is now conducting bus inspections at selected weigh stations across the state.  The new en route program will supplement the existing terminal and destination inspections already taking place-and will work in conjunction with the existing truck inspection program.

"This program will mean greater scrutiny on bus drivers and bus equipment, which will increase safety for bus riders and the traveling public alike," said Col. Thomas A. Davis Jr., DPS director. "We hope this approach will prevent a tragedy before it happens."

Tour and charter buses are required to stop when the weigh stations are open. Commercial regular route bus carriers are only required to stop when the weigh stations are open and a red flag is displayed.

Participating weigh stations include:

• Riviera, south of Kingsville, on Highway 77 (Kleberg County)
• Devine, southwest of San Antonio, on I-35 (Medina County)
• New Waverly, north of Houston, on I-45 (Walker County)
• Mt. Pleasant, southeast of Texarkana, on I-30 (Titus County)
• Childress, southeast of Amarillo, on Highway 287 (Childress County)

"The sites were chosen with the passengers in mind in case a bus is placed out of service," said Randall Elliston, chief of the Traffic Law Enforcement Division. "The sites will have facilities such as restrooms, phones, secure waiting areas and medical services nearby."

During the inspections, the bus driver's commercial driver license, medical certificate and driver logbooks will be examined. The buses will face various levels of inspections, focusing on equipment such as brakes, lights, tires and weight to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.

"The Texas Bus Association fully supports this program," said Jerry Prestridge, executive director of the Texas Bus Association. "While bus travel is the safest mode of transportation, we always seek to increase safety. This program targets the carriers with the greatest safety risk, while at the same time implementing procedures designed to minimize passenger inconvenience."