[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 166 (Monday, August 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50971-50973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7182]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2005-21324]


Pre-Trip Safety Information for Motorcoach Passengers

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FMCSA seeks comments on its proposed plan to implement 
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations for 
providing pre-trip safety information to motorcoach passengers. The 
NTSB recommends that the agency require, and develop minimum guidelines 
for, pre-trip safety information to be provided by motorcoach companies 
to passengers. FMCSA, in conjunction with stakeholders, has developed a 
basic plan for all motorcoach companies to implement a passenger safety 
awareness program. FMCSA proposes a flexible plan that would approve 
several methods of informing motorcoach passengers using visual and/or 
audio presentation, with or without technology assistance. FMCSA seeks 
motorcoach industry and stakeholder input in finalizing the plan. The 
goal of this initiative is to develop, and encourage adoption of, 
passenger safety awareness guidelines suited for diverse motorcoach 
operational types.

DATES: We must receive your comments by November 27, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket Number FMCSA-
2005-21324, by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Agency Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
    <bullet> Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001. Please submit three copies of written 
comments.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Submit three copies of written comments to 
Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Instructions: Comments must refer to Docket Number FMCSA-2005-
21324. All comments received will be posted without change to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information provided. For detailed 
instructions on submitting comments, see the ``Public Participation'' 
heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. For 
a summary of DOT's Privacy Act Statement or information on how to 
obtain a complete copy of DOT's Privacy Act Statement please see the 
``Privacy Act'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read the application or 
comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL-
401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter Chandler, Commercial 
Passenger Carrier Safety Division (MC-ECP), 202-366-5763; Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are from 8 
a.m. to 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation

    The DMS is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. You can 
get electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines under the 
``Help'' section of the DMS Web site. If you want us to notify you of 
receiving your comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped 
envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgement page displaying after 
received of on-line comments.

[[Page 50972]]

Privacy Act

    Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

I. Background

    On February 26, 1999, NTSB issued five recommendations to the 
Secretary of Transportation. This public notice addresses the two 1999 
recommendations subsequently delegated to FMCSA:

H-99-7, Provide guidance on the minimum information to be included in 
safety briefing materials for motorcoach operators.
H-99-8, Require motorcoach operators to provide passengers with pre-
trip safety information.

    NTSB made similar recommendations to the American Bus Association 
(ABA) and the United Motorcoach Association (UMA). The two 1999 
recommendations were in response to a motorcoach crash on I-95 near 
Stony Creek, Virginia. On July 29, 1997, a 1985 Transportation 
Manufacturing Corporation motorcoach operated by Rite-Way 
Transportation, Inc. drifted off the side of I-95 and down an 
embankment into the Nottoway River, where it came to rest on its left 
side. At the time, a driver and 34 passengers were onboard the 
motorcoach. One passenger was fatally injured. The driver and 3 
passengers sustained serious injuries; 28 passengers sustained minor 
injuries. NTSB believed this fatal accident highlighted the need for 
motorcoach passengers to receive pre-trip safety information similar to 
the emergency evacuation information given during pre-flight safety 
briefings for commercial airline passengers. During several motorcoach 
crash investigations by NTSB, passengers described a general sense of 
panic because they did not know what to do or how to get out of the 
motorcoach.
    In the spring of 2003, FMCSA held informal meetings with ABA, UMA, 
and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) which culminated in a 
working group to address the NTSB recommendations. Individuals from the 
motorcoach operating industry, motorcoach manufacturers, insurance 
industry, safety consulting industry, trade associations, State 
agencies, and other Federal regulatory agencies comprised the working 
group. the working group met initially via conference call on August 
19, 2003, and reached consensus on a response to the NTSB 
recommendations on September 16, 2003.
    The working group concluded it would be best to initially encourage 
the motorcoach industry to take voluntary action to improve pre-trip 
safety awareness. Motorcoach industry officials asserted it is 
impossible to develop a uniform passenger safety awareness regulation, 
flexible enough for industry-wide application, due to wide-ranging 
operational variances within the motorcoach industry. The group 
believed development and promotion of a list of best practices is a 
more effective and realistic alternative to ensure motorcoach 
passengers receive safety information. This notice announces FMCSA's 
intent to work together with stakeholders on these safety guidelines. 
The guidelines would allow motorcoach companies to conduct pre-trip 
safety briefings as they deem appropriate.
    In an April 1, 2005, letter to FMCSA, the NTSB stated that the 
activities described above will provide motorcoach passengers with 
increased information about safety, and are responsive to 
recommendation H-99-7. In addition, NTSB stated such activities also 
provide an acceptable alternate approach to recommendation H-99-8. 
Based upon FMCSA's actions taken and plans made, NTSB classified 
recommendation H-99-7 as ``Open--Acceptable Response'' and 
recommendation H-99-8 as ``Open--Acceptable Alternate Response.'' After 
reaching general consensus among stakeholders about a basic plan for 
motorcoach passenger safety awareness and developing a model 
informational pamphlet, FMCSA will submit such information and material 
to the NTSB for review. At such time, FMCSA and its safety partners 
will also begin monitoring crashes and complaints to verify that 
motorcoach companies are presenting pre-trip safety information to 
their passengers.

II. Proposed Basic Plan for Motorcoach Passenger Safety Awareness

Minimum Safety Topics To Be Covered

    1. Driver Direction--Advise passengers to look to the driver for 
direction and follow his/her instructions.
    2. Avoiding Slips and Falls--Warn passengers to exercise care when 
boarding and de-boarding the motorcoach, and to use the handrail when 
ascending or descending steps. Encourage passengers to remain seated as 
much as possible while the motorcoach is in motion. If it is necessary 
to walk while the motorcoach is moving, passengers should always use 
handrails and supports.
    Keep the aisle free of all property and debris.
    3. Emergency Contact--Advise passengers to call 911 via cellular 
telephone in the event of an emergency.
    4. Emergency exits--Point out the location of all emergency exits 
(push-out windows, roof vent, and side door) and explain how to operate 
them, including the emergency door release located on the dash or in 
the stairwell. Emphasize that, whenever feasible, the motorcoach door 
should be the primary exit choice. Encourage able-bodied passengers to 
assist any injured or mobility-impaired passengers during an emergency 
evacuation.
    5. Restroom Emergency Push Button on Switch--Inform motorcoach 
passengers of the emergency signal advice in the restroom.
    6. Fire extinguisher--Point out the location of the fire 
extinguisher.

Alternative Methods of Presenting the Safety Information

    1. During passenger boarding:
    a. Informational pamphlets distributed to motorcoach passengers 
during boarding.
    2. After passenger boarding, immediately prior to moving the 
motorcoach:
    a. Suggestion by the driver for passengers to review informational 
pamphlets located in the pouches or sleeves on the back of seats.
    b. Oral presentation on safety information by the motorcoach driver 
(similar to the presentations by airline flight attendants prior to 
take-off) with or without informational pamphlets as visual aids.
    c. Automated audio presentation broadcasting a cassette tape or 
compact disk over the motorcoach audio system.
    d. Automated video presentation using a videotape or DVD on the 
motorcoach video system.

Timing and Frequency of the Presentation

    Demand-responsive motorcoach operations such as charter and tour 
service should present the safety information to motorcoach passengers 
after boarding, prior to movement of the motorcoach.
    At a minimum, fixed route motorcoach service operations should 
present the safety information at all major stops or terminals after 
boarding, prior to movement of the motorcoach.

[[Page 50973]]

III. Request for Comments

    FMCSA requests comments on the adequacy and comprehensiveness of 
the basic plan as well as recommendations for additional plan details.

    Issued on: August 21, 2006.
David H. Hugel,
Deputy Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
[FR Doc. 06-7182 Filed 8-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-M