DOT reverses Obama-era push for bus safety inspections

President Trump’s Department of Transportation is reversing an Obama-era proposal for mandatory safety inspections for buses.

The agency’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on Friday withdrew the proposal after issuing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking last April that would have required states to inspect passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles once a year.

{mosads}As part of the review process, the FMCSA said it examined current federal standards and existing state inspection requirements, and compared the risks posed by improperly maintained buses to the costs of establishing mandatory safety inspections.

The agency said it determined that it “is not aware of data or information that supports the development” of such rules at this time.

The FMCSA said it received 10 comments from states and industry groups that opposed the inspection standards and seven comments from groups in support.

The rule withdrawal goes into effect immediately.