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August 17, 1999 10:48 AM, EDT

Sen. John Breaux wants to improve truck and bus safety by requiring all commercial vehicle inspectors to be certified to uniform standards and proficiency levels.

Breaux wants to certify not only federal inspectors, but sate, local and third-party specialists as well using a certification board he wants to create.

He also wants a media campaign to educate the public on how to obtain information about a carrier’s safety record and to urge them not to use unsafe carriers.

The Louisiana Democrat introduced his legislation Aug. 5 with the aim of increasing the number and quality of compliance reviews.

The measure is in response to the Mother’s Day bus accident near New Orleans that resulted in the deaths of 22 people. Investigators found that the bus driver for Custom Bus Charter Inc. had marijuana in his blood.

According to Breaux, the bus company had received a satisfactory rating from the Federal Highway Administration in April 1996. Four months later, the Department of Defense failed the company for not having a drug and alcohol testing program.

“FHWA does not have the resources and structure to certify inspectors,” Breaux said, adding that “Compliance reviews are not always performed in a consistent or accurate manner.”

He said the agency also needs additional resources so it can inspect more of the 450,000 interstate motor carriers.