Truck Accidents
What are the regulations that apply to motorcoach drivers?
Upon entering a bus, one of the first things on your mind may be whether or not the driver is any good. You hope that he or she has had enough sleep and that the driver is well-educated in driving the vehicle you’re in. The last thing you want is to be involved in a crash because of a poorly trained or distracted driver.
According to federal law, interstate motorcoach drivers have to meet several guidelines. For instance, all drivers have to be at least 21 years old. They also need to be fluent enough in English to have a conversation in the general public, understand roadway signs and be able to make legible reports and records. The driver should be able to speak and write in English.
The driver should have appropriate training for driving a motorcoach along with a valid commercial driver’s license. He or she needs to possess a medical examiner’s certificate and needs to submit documentation to his or her employer that he or she has not violated any traffic laws in the last 12 months.
If these restrictions seem harsh, it’s true. These drivers are responsible for getting passengers where they need to go, so the restrictions on them are strict. The laws are there to make sure the drivers are safe and able to read and write about their interactions and obey laws in English. The 21-year age requirement is there to make sure the driver has enough time to learn to drive safely in a passenger vehicle as well as to take the appropriate training to drive with a CDL.
If you get hurt as a result of a driver’s negligence and find that he or she was in violation of federal law, you may be able to seek compensation. No injury caused by another person should be your responsibility; it’s already affecting you. You should focus on recovery without the risk of the crash impacting your finances.
Source: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, “Legal Notice for Motorcoach Operations,” accessed Feb. 19, 2018
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