Motorcoach Rollover on U.S. Highway 59 Near Victoria, Texas, January 2, 2008

On January 2, 2008, about 4:13 am., a 2005 Volvo 47-passenger motorcoach carrying 47 passengers was proceeding northbound on U.S. Highway 59 (U.S. 59) about 5 miles south of Victoria, Texas, when the motorcoach driver partially drifted off the right edge of the roadway. As a result of the driver making a series of oversteers in an attempt to stay on the roadway, the motorcoach rotated counterclockwise and overturned onto its right side. The motorcoach's right rear struck a guardrail as the motorcoach slid on its right side approximately 112 feet before coming to rest across the roadway. Within 5 minutes, and before emergency responders arrived on scene, a 2001 Ford Ranger pickup truck also traveling northbound on U.S. 59 struck the underside of the motorcoach forward of the rear axle. The investigation identified the following safety issues: the lack of federal oversight of passenger motor carrier leasing agreements and the registration and use of non-Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard-compliant, passenger-carrying vehicles in commercial motor carrier operations in the United States. The report also addresses continuing deficiencies in motor carrier operating authority issues, safety rating methodology, and the New Entrant Safety Assurance Program. As a result of its investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board makes recommendations to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the International Registration Plan, Inc., and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. The NTSB also reiterates two previously issued recommendations to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.