Study on Risk of Sleep-Deprived Drivers Exposes Dangers of Tour Bus Industry

In the U.S., intercity bus operators are exempt from provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) to pay their drivers fair overtime wages for work performed over 40 hours per week. Unscrupulous bus companies pay their drivers discount wages, forcing them to work second jobs to provide for their families. Sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY in the Senate and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) in the House, the Driver Fatigue Prevention Act would ensure that drivers are paid fairly for the overtime work that they put in above 40 hours per week.

The AAA report found that driving with only 4-5 hours of sleep was comparable to driving with a blood alcohol content at or above the legal limit, and that driving with less than four hours was even greater.

“Driving drowsy is dangerous and these underhanded bus companies are putting the public at serious risk by exploiting their drivers by paying them discount wages, with no overtime, leaving many sleep-deprived bus drivers behind the wheel on our nation’s highways,” said Larry Hanley, international president of ATU, which represents workers at Greyhound and other intercity bus companies.

“Shouldn’t working a 15-hour day be enough to earn a living? It’s time for the government to close this outdated loophole and extend protections to bus drivers so they are fairly compensated for overtime, especially in this safety sensitive industry.”

The National Transportation Safety Board estimates that 36 percent of U.S. motorcoach crash fatalities over the past decade have been due to driver fatigue. It is the number one cause of fatal accidents, far above road conditions (2 percent) or inattention (6 percent). Over the last decade, three times as many people have been killed in intercity bus accidents than in commercial airline crashes.

Deregulation of the industry in the 1980s lead to the opening of more than 3,700 commercial motor coach companies – many of which are fly-by-night operations. This is far more than the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration can monitor for compliance with safety regulations. In fact, one in four commercial motorcoach and passenger van companies has never received a full safety evaluation. Almost half have not been reviewed in over two years.

“These companies advertise cheap fares, free Wi-Fi, live TV, comfortable seats and other so-called luxuries. But what about their safety record, their drivers’ experience, pay, and hours behind the wheel?,” Hanley asked. “ATU calls on Congress to put the Driver Fatigue Prevention Act on the fast track to ensure intercity bus drivers don’t have to resort to doctoring log books, working other jobs and wearily reporting for duty with a giant cup of coffee.”