The New Rule Of Seat Belts On Over-The-Road-Buses

In late November, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ruled that lap and shoulder belts are now required to be worn by occupants on new motorcoaches and other large buses. The recent ruling is expected to significantly reduce the risk of serious injuries and fatalities in frontal crashes and the risk of passenger ejection in rollover accidents.

Approximately 7,934 motorcoach occupants are injured and 21 killed annually. Making safety belts a requirement is projected to "reduce fatalities by up to 44 percent and reduce the number of moderate to severe injuries by up to 45 percent," according to the NHTSA.

This ruling only applies to new over-the-road buses and to other types of new buses with a gross vehicle weight of great than 26,000 pounds. Transit buses and school buses are exempt. Buses manufactured in November of 2016 will be required to be equipped with safety belts for all occupants.

If you have been involved in an auto accident, contact Orlando Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton at 888-293-1144 or at sextonlaw.com to ensure that your rights are protected.

Who To Call After An Accident With A Large Truck

In an attempt to reduce fatigue in truck drivers, laws have gone into effect enforcing new guidelines and standards for working hours this past July. The objective of the new law is to eliminate the occurrence of tired drivers behind the wheel of these deadly vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) estimates that 19 lives will be saved and 560 injuries will be prevented through the enforcement of the new law.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least one fatality occurs in a large truck collision in 98% of instances. Because of the sheer size of commercial trucks, the danger of catastrophic injuries and death is great, which exemplifies the need to enforce increased safety measures.

FMCSA's new hours-of-service final rule:

• Limits the maximum average work week for truck drivers to 70 hours, a decrease from the current maximum of 82 hours;
• Allows truck drivers who reach the maximum 70 hours of driving within a week to resume if they rest for 34 consecutive hours, including at least two nights when their body clock demands sleep the most - from 1-5 a.m., and;
• Requires truck drivers to take a 30-minute break during the first eight hours of a shift.

Due to the catastrophic injuries and fatalities associated with large truck crashes, it is crucial that an experienced attorney employed after a collision. Contact Orlando Personal Injury Attorney Jeffrey Sexton at 888-293-1144 or at sextonlaw.com to ensure that your rights are protected.