Commercial vehicle drivers, including tractor trailer and bus operators, are required to follow state and federal laws relating to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs in addition to many other rules and regulations to ensure motorist and passenger safety. Bus drivers who transport passengers while under the influence of alcohol or drugs do a huge disservice to the public. They are not only putting their own lives at risk, but also the lives of others on the road and passengers who trust them to safely transport them from one place to the next.
According to a 10News.com article, a bus driver in San Diego is expected to confess to driving under the influence, drunk driving in a commercial vehicle, and public drunkenness for a June 1 incident. Before his arrest, the 41-year old had been driving for the bus operator, First Transit, for three months. A passenger of the bus reported the driver, saying that he was driving slow and stopped at bus stops that did not have anyone waiting at them.
The article states that since 2006, the bus driver has received nine alcohol-related offense citations in North County and that he has fought alcohol problems for years. At the time of his arrest, the bus driver had a blood-alcohol level of 0.25, just over three times the legal limit of 0.08.
If a North County bus collision had taken place due to the bus driver operating the vehicle while intoxicated, the bus company could have been held liable for not conducting a thorough background check that would have revealed the driver’s apparent alcohol problem.
The lack of air bags, seat belts, and other safety restraints in most buses places passengers at a heightened risk of enduring serious injury or death in the event of an accident. If you or someone you love has been injured in a San Diego bus crash that you believe was caused by the negligence of a bus driver or another motorist, you may want to get in touch with an experienced San Diego bus accident attorney. Steven Elia has dedicated several years to helping those injured by another person’s negligent actions. Call 619-444-2244 today for a free consultation.
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