Senator Fuschillo Urges Travelers to “Look Before They Book” This Labor Day Weekend

New App Unveiled During National Bus Safety Week Allows Travelers to Check Bus Company’s Safety Record

     With many residents traveling this Labor Day Weekend and students heading back to college, Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick), Chairman of the New York State Senate Committee on Transportation, is urging travelers to check a bus company's safety record before booking their ticket.

     The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) SaferBus mobile app allows travelers to check the safety records of an inter-city bus carrier before they purchase a ticket. Travelers may access to up to 24 months of a bus company’s safety performance data. This data provides insight into a carrier’s performance in a number of important safety categories including unsafe driving, fatigued driving, driver fitness, controlled substances/alcohol, and vehicle maintenance.

     “Many residents, especially college students, use commercial buses to make trips between cities or states,” said Senator Fuschillo. “Unfortunately, most travelers are unaware that a number of bus companies have spotty safety records that could potentially put the traveling public at risk. I commend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for working in conjunction with states and localities to remove these unsafe commercial carriers from our roads and providing travelers with the proper tools to make informed decisions when choosing a bus carrier.”

     The app, which is usable on iphone, ipads, and android phones, also provides links to National Consumer Complaint Database where they can file complaints about a bus company that is operating in an unsafe or illegal manner. The SaferBus app links to the FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database. In using this feature, travelers can also connect to the FMCSA hotline number 1-888-DOT-SAFT (1-888-368-7238). In addition to the app providing a snapshot of FMCSA’s bus safety data, travelers may access a more in-depth version of the information at its Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) website, csa.fmcsa.dot.gov.

     The announcement of the new app comes after the FMCSA, working in partnership with The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) as part of National Bus Safety Week, announced its plan for an intensified safety crackdown on unsafe commercial vehicles and increased safety inspections. According to the FMCSA, commercial vehicle inspectors on the federal, state, and local levels will check brakes, tires, exhaust systems, and other mechanical components. They will also verify commercial driver qualifications and driver compliance with federal hours-of-service requirements. Already this week, NYSDOT has performed 102 bus inspections and placed 25 buses out-of-service for driver or vehicle issues.