Back in May we ran the very cleverly named article “Next Stop: Better Bus Safety.” (Nice work, Emily.) It addressed the concern that many of the new, discount bus companies sending dozens of buses up and down the Eastern Corridor every day were experiencing fatal accidents. Around that time, lawmakers started to take notice.

Two accidents, which killed 17 people combined, involved buses bound for New York, so Mayor Michael Bloomberg put the Manhattan Traffic Task Force on the case. And New York Senators Chuck Schumer (D) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D) co-sponsored a bill that would introduce the Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act, legislation that would require buses to have safety belts, anti-ejection windows, tougher roofs that can withstand rollovers and increased fire resistance.

To further promote safety, the Department of Transportation last week hosted its National Motorcoach Safety Summit, during which stakeholders gathered to discuss ways to protect passengers and announce a new wave of surprise inspections.

At the summit, [Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration] Administrator Anne Ferro announced an upcoming two-week sweep of thousands of surprise safety inspections.  The Passenger Bus Safety Inspection Strike Force involves inspections of motorcoaches, tour buses and school buses around the country.  Over the past five years, FMCSA has doubled the number of safety reviews of our nation’s 4,000 carriers.  I’d much rather hear about a bus failing an inspection – proof that our system is working – than think of the consequences if that bus were still on the road.

Later, participants discussed best practices to increase vehicle and driver safety and effective public outreach tools to make sure consumers choose a safe company every trip and every time.

Despite the recent spike in high-profile crashes, bus safety has long been one of the safest ways to travel.

And through events like the safety summit, officials are trying to keep it that way.