New FMCSA Rule Pleasing to California Bus Accident Lawyers
By Joel Mclaughlin | On January 29, 2010 | In Legal | Rated 
California truck accident lawyers have long been concerned about the truck and bus safety issues regarding poor safety standards and dismal compliance rates of newly registered trucking and bus companies. Now, federal agencies seem to be increasing their efforts to oversee these new companies so that accidents involving these new carriers might be reduced. California bus accident lawyers are please by these changes, which started on December 15th. On this date, the FMCSA started enforcing a rule that requires these new companies to comply strictly to strong safety requirements or suffer the consequences, which means potentially being taken off the roads.
In order to pass new safety audits, truck and bus companies must meet higher compliance standards under the New Entrant Safety Assurance Process rule. This essentially means that any deficiency found has to be rectified prior to the company applying for permanent registration. If even one of the 16 federal regulations is violated, new companies will automatically fail their safety audits. The 16 safety regulations, or "16 deadly sins" as they are also known, are as follows:
1. Failure to test drivers for drugs and alcohol
2. Allowing a truck or bus driver who has been found with a blood alcohol level of .04 percent or more to perform key functions.
3. Using drivers even though they refused to test for drugs and alcohol
4. Using drivers even though they have tested positive for using drugs
5. Neglecting to put a random alcohol or drug testing program in to place
6. Allowing drivers who are unqualified to drive (not having a valid commercial drivers license)
7. Allowing a driver whose license has been canceled or revoked to drive a truck or bus
8. Allowing a disqualified driver to operate a truck or bus
9. Allowing drivers without the necessary minimum level of financial responsibility to operate a passenger motor carrier
10. Allowing drivers to operate a motor vehicle although they do not have the necessary minimum financial responsibility coverage
11. Allowing a disqualified driver to drive
12. Allowing a driver who is physically unfit to drive
13. Neglect when it comes to getting drivers to record their duty status
14. Operating a bus or truck that is scheduled for repair and unfit for service to be used before it has been repaired
15. Operating a bus or truck without repairing defects reported and listed by the previous driver
16. Operating a bus or truck without performing the periodic inspections
Truck and bus companies that violate even one of these regulations may fail their safety audit according to the new rules. A company's registration may be revoked if the safety audit is not passed, unless the company makes an effort to correct the problems within a certain time period. If a truck or bus is subject to a roadside inspection and safety violations are discovered, it may lead to a safety audit or compliance review, which may mean fines. The motor carrier could even face being put out of service.
If you are the victim of a bus accident injury (or some one that you love), make sure that you consider contacting an attorney or law firm to learn whether or not you can be reimbursed for medical expenses and lost wages due to your accident.
About The Author:
The Reeves Law Group are California personal injury lawyers (http://www.robertreeveslaw.com) with offices dedicated to representing injury victims, including victims of California bus accidents (http://www.robertreeveslaw.com/california/bus-accidents.html)
In order to pass new safety audits, truck and bus companies must meet higher compliance standards under the New Entrant Safety Assurance Process rule. This essentially means that any deficiency found has to be rectified prior to the company applying for permanent registration. If even one of the 16 federal regulations is violated, new companies will automatically fail their safety audits. The 16 safety regulations, or "16 deadly sins" as they are also known, are as follows:
1. Failure to test drivers for drugs and alcohol
2. Allowing a truck or bus driver who has been found with a blood alcohol level of .04 percent or more to perform key functions.
3. Using drivers even though they refused to test for drugs and alcohol
4. Using drivers even though they have tested positive for using drugs
5. Neglecting to put a random alcohol or drug testing program in to place
6. Allowing drivers who are unqualified to drive (not having a valid commercial drivers license)
7. Allowing a driver whose license has been canceled or revoked to drive a truck or bus
8. Allowing a disqualified driver to operate a truck or bus
9. Allowing drivers without the necessary minimum level of financial responsibility to operate a passenger motor carrier
10. Allowing drivers to operate a motor vehicle although they do not have the necessary minimum financial responsibility coverage
11. Allowing a disqualified driver to drive
12. Allowing a driver who is physically unfit to drive
13. Neglect when it comes to getting drivers to record their duty status
14. Operating a bus or truck that is scheduled for repair and unfit for service to be used before it has been repaired
15. Operating a bus or truck without repairing defects reported and listed by the previous driver
16. Operating a bus or truck without performing the periodic inspections
Truck and bus companies that violate even one of these regulations may fail their safety audit according to the new rules. A company's registration may be revoked if the safety audit is not passed, unless the company makes an effort to correct the problems within a certain time period. If a truck or bus is subject to a roadside inspection and safety violations are discovered, it may lead to a safety audit or compliance review, which may mean fines. The motor carrier could even face being put out of service.
If you are the victim of a bus accident injury (or some one that you love), make sure that you consider contacting an attorney or law firm to learn whether or not you can be reimbursed for medical expenses and lost wages due to your accident.
About The Author:
The Reeves Law Group are California personal injury lawyers (http://www.robertreeveslaw.com) with offices dedicated to representing injury victims, including victims of California bus accidents (http://www.robertreeveslaw.com/california/bus-accidents.html)