There is no denying that our country’s passenger transportation system is safe. Serious crashes involving passenger-carrying commercial vehicles are relatively rare, and large buses in particular are the safest form of highway transportation out there, which is a great thing given their precious cargo.
But when accidents happen, they can be catastrophic and they can grab national attention. And, where the headlines go, so too go the regulators and legislators in charge of protecting public safety.
Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation have been paying extra attention to motor carriers of passengers in recent years, largely as a result of major accidents involving multiple injuries and fatalities.