Your Texas Bus Driver Could Be Drowsy, Fatigued, Or Asleep At The Wheel

San Marcos Police announced last week that their investigation has revealed the cause of the budget bus accident that injured 17 people on Interstate 35 at the beginning of the month: the driver fell asleep at the wheel. The early-morning Texas bus crash, which seriously injured 8 people and caused a four-year-old girl to lose a leg, apparently took place when driver Jesus Basio-Ramirez of Dallas nodded off while driving and drifted off the right side of the road. When he woke up, he overcorrected to the left, tipping the bus.

Unfortunately, this story is a familiar one for anyone who regularly researches bus accidents. All too often, despite federal regulations, bus drivers are overworked, fatigued, driving at all hours of the day and night, and just plain drowsy. In fact, the San Marcos bus accident follows on the heels of a similar bus crash in Virginia, in which authorities believe a driver fell asleep at the wheel before causing a fatal accident on I-95.

What is at the heart of the issue? Traffic safety advocates believe that the bargain bus companies that offer low-cost tickets to travelers are also offering unsafe rides. Far too many drivers lie on their applications, cheat when they fill out their driver’s logbook, or take jobs on short notice and little sleep. Many drivers are forced to nap in the buses in between trips, take short-notice jobs or risk losing their jobs, and drive long hours in order to support their family. At the same time, bus companies know that they can continue to offer rock-bottom ticket prices while turning a profit if their drivers are overworked and underpaid. While some believe these issues could be stopped with more bus industry regulation on a federal level, others believe that authorities simply need to better uphold the laws that are already in place.

Have you or a loved one been involved in a bus accident that may have involved fatigued driving? Speak with a Texas bus accident injury attorney today.