The New York State Senate has passed a bill – S5171B – sponsored by State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick) that would require all bus drivers to submit to criminal background checks in order to improve safety for bus passengers following several bus crashes caused by dangerous bus drivers with histories of criminal driving convictions. The legislation has been sent to the Assembly for consideration. (more…)

The family of a 26-year-old Illinois woman struck and killed by a tour bus as she crossed a street has filed a lawsuit in Cook County court claiming that the owners of the bus were negligent in hiring and retaining a bus driver who was a convicted felon with 20 citations for traffic violations and whose Commercial Drivers License was temporarily suspended in 2008, according to a report on the Chicago Sun-Times media wire. (more…)

The Governor of New York has ordered an investigation into a horrific bus crash that left 15 passengers dead, citing the “criminal record and driving history” of the bus driver after it was revealed that he had served prison time for manslaughter and forgery and had his driving privileges suspended after ignoring tickets for speeding and driving without a license, according to a report from CNN. The story also raised questions about what background check, if any, was conducted on the driver before he was hired. (more…)