NTSB slams fatigue among bus drivers

WASHINGTON, April 22 (UPI) -- Federal investigators say a deadly charter-bus crash in rural Utah last year should be a wake-up call about driver fatigue.

The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday fatigue played the primary role in the crash near Mexican Hat that killed nine people and injured 44 others.

"Maybe this accident will be a call for action," acting NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker said.

Rosenker said he was "extremely disappointed" in the circumstances surrounding the crash because of a lack of regulations on the amount of sleep bus drivers must have as well as Washington's supposed failure to require seat belts and improve structural support in the vehicles.

The Salt Lake Tribune said the NTSB took the rare step of laying some of the blame for the tragedy on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for its failure to be more aggressive in pushing for safety upgrades.

The NTSB also recommended bus companies have contingency plans in place for substitute drivers to take over when a bus driver becomes sick or too tired to safely handle the vehicle.