Many people continue to ride the bus even in the face of cheap airline tickets and cheap travel packages.
The DOT is asking Congress to grant greater power to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) so that it can successfully pursue suspended operators who go out and secure licenses to operate under new names.
DOT has also requested Congress approve a new procedure that would empower the FMCSA to conduct bus safety inspections at places such as rest stops and require new motorcoach companies to undergo a complete safety audit before being allowed to operate.
Finally the DOT wants to increase the financial penalty for operating a bus illegally or without government authorization from $2,000 per day to $25,000 per violation.
Currently fatal bus accidents are continuing even though FMCSA in the past two years has suspended as many unsafe operators by issuing 14 imminent hazard orders as it did in the previous 10 years.
The DOT conducted over 3,000 surprise bus inspections in May and issued out of service citations to 127 drivers and 315 vehicles.
Premium Economy Growing in Popularity
Most travelers appreciate flying in as comfortable seats as possible while in the air, but given the value of cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages, few people are willing to pay for pricey First or Business Class tickets which can cost five times or more than economy.Airport Hotels offering Surprising Amenities
Cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms or cheap vacation packages are usually preferred by many travelers. However, many a traveler expects less than a stellar experience when choosing to stay at an airport hotel.Dramatic Rise in US Air Travel Forecasted
Cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages are likely to continue to play major roles in airline passenger travel increasing by over 60 percent over the next two decades.