H.R. 8

1

MOTOR CARRIER AND TOUR BUS SAFETY
2 RESOLUTION
3 2003 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: LaWanna Lou Shurtliff
6 This resolution of the House of Representatives strongly urges tour bus companies to
7 consider ways in which they can increase the safety of their buses. The resolution urges
8 the Utah Motor Carrier Division to review its safety inspection procedures to determine
9 whether there are additional ways to improve the safety of buses on Utah's roads.
10 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the state of Utah:
11 WHEREAS, motor coach travel is considered one of the safest modes of travel
12 available;
13 WHEREAS, those traveling by motor coach entrust their safety to a well-equipped bus
14 and driver;
15 WHEREAS, drivers of motor coaches should be able to have the safest and most
16 reliable equipment;
17 WHEREAS, on October 3, 2002, members of the Senior Friends of Ogden, a social
18 group of Top of Utah senior citizens sponsored by the Ogden Regional Medical Center, were
19 taking an annual fall foliage tour;
20 WHEREAS, their motor coach, or tour bus, was traveling southbound on Nebo Loop
21 Road when the bus went out of control, struck a tree, and flipped on its right side;
22 WHEREAS, the accident claimed the lives of Helen McMullen, Lillian A. Oblock,
23 Joyce Reese, Jacqueline C. Peterson, Ramona Becker, Jean L. Pell, and Peggy Wright;
24 WHEREAS, 20 other people were injured in the bus crash;
25 WHEREAS, the loss of these seven women, all outstanding members of the
26 community, has been deeply felt by all who knew them;
27 WHEREAS, the tragedy has focused increased attention on the safety of tour buses and

28 whether further steps should be taken to increase safety; and
29 WHEREAS, state procedures and inspections play a key role in maintaining safety for
30 those traveling on tour buses and can greatly reduce the human tragedies resulting from similar
31 accidents in the future:
32 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
33 state of Utah strongly urges tour bus companies to consider ways in which they can increase the
34 safety of their buses.
35 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives urge the Utah Motor
36 Carrier Division to review its safety inspection procedures to determine whether there are
37 additional ways to improve safety on Utah's roads.
38 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the American
39 Bus Association, to the Utah Tour Bus Companies, and the Utah Motor Carrier Division.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-17-03 10:53 AM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel