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Tallulah, Louisiana

This report investigates a motorcoach run-off-the-road accident in Tallulah, Louisiana on October 13, 2003. It explores factors such as driver fatigue, motor carrier oversight, and motorcoach seating anchorages.

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Tallulah, Louisiana

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  1. Tallulah, Louisiana Motorcoach Run-off-the-Road Accident October 13, 2003

  2. Eastbound on Interstate 20 near Tallulah, Louisiana SOURCE: LSP

  3. Accident Tractor Semitrailer SOURCE: LSP

  4. Accident Vehicle • 1992 49-passenger Neoplan USA motorcoach • No accident-related mechanical defects • No occupant restraints, except for driver SOURCE: LSP

  5. Occupant Injuries • Motorcoach • Driver seriously injured • 8 passengers fatally injured • 6 passengers seriously injured • Tractor semitrailer driver not injured

  6. Parties to the Investigation • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration • Louisiana State Police • Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development • First Baptist Church of Eldorado • Neoplan USA Corporation • United Motorcoach Association

  7. Issues • Driver fatigue • State and Federal motor carrier oversight • Speed-restricted tires • Motorcoach seating anchorages

  8. Recommendation Recipients • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration • American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators • Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance • Neoplan USA Corporation

  9. Motorcoach Driver Factors and Church Operator Issues

  10. Motorcoach Driver • 66-year-old male • No medical certificate • Valid Class “B” commercial driver’s license (CDL)

  11. Fatigue • Reduced alertness due to fatigue: • Physical evidence • Witness statements • Motorcoach driver’s own statement • Potential fatigue contributors

  12. Medical Conditions • Preaccident medical conditions • Insomnia • Chronic degenerative arthritis • Joint pain, chronic low back pain • Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea • Well-documented effect on sleep quality, quantity

  13. Sleep Study Results • 2000 sleep study: • 7 hours in bed, 4.7 hours actual sleep • No REM sleep • 1-2 hours to fall asleep • Awoke 6-8 times nightly, needed 10-15 minutes to fall back asleep

  14. Prescription Medications • Tramadol • Pain reliever, some side effects • Low level found postaccident • Zolpidem • Sleep aid, short-term sedation • Cautioned against use while driving • Without medications, less sleep

  15. Dietary Supplements • Unregulated by FDA • Difficult to assess potential contribution • FDA plans final rulemaking soon

  16. Medical Examinations • 49 CFR 391.41 requires medical examination to operate a commercial vehicle • Driver had several potentially disqualifying medical conditions • Knowledgeable examiner might have disqualified driver • Current system lacking guidance

  17. Medical Examination Process • Examiners not adequately supported by current process • FMCSA contract to develop registry, certification program • Under current system, driver might not have been denied certification

  18. Church Operator Issues • Church did not consider its motorcoach a commercial vehicle • Texas registration – “Private Bus” • Not aware of the FMCSA • All vehicles require title and registration, most State applications lack commercial vehicle definition and guidance

  19. Operator Issues, Continued • Churches, colleges, charter schools, associations, and others may not be aware of responsibilities • “Safe Transportation of Passengers by Motorcoach and What it Means to You” • Site serves as an educational outreach mechanism

  20. Commercial Vehicle Inspections

  21. Tire Inspection Criteria • Motorcoach passed Texas inspection • Speed-limited tires not addressed • No inspection criteria exist • Potential for inappropriate use

  22. Required Vehicle Inspections • Required annually, all commercial vehicles • Authorized State inspection program • Authorized third party inspection facility • Authorized roadside inspection program • Self-inspection process

  23. Alpha Trucking Inspections • Self-inspecting and certifying • Unqualified inspector • False annual inspection certification • False roadside inspection repair certifications • Missing required vehicle maintenance records

  24. Postaccident Inspections • Numerous roadside inspection violations prior to accident • Driver reported smoking brake • Total of 67 rejection violations • Multiple disqualifying violations at every brake assembly

  25. Alpha’s Mechanical Neglect • No effective maintenance program • Habitual, progressive mechanical neglect

  26. Self-Inspection Oversight • No Federal oversight of Alpha • No Federal or State oversight • Alpha abused self-inspection program • Easily circumvented • Results in unsafe conditions

  27. Motorcoach Occupant Protection

  28. Crash Survivability • Adequate survival space outside intrusion area • Passengers trapped between seats • Increased injury severity

  29. T-bolt Anchorages

  30. Anchorage Installation • Design permits seat movement by owner • Owner’s manual lacked installation information • Lack of information leads to improper installment, improper maintenance

  31. Seat Anchorage Inspection • Seats not properly secured • Passed Texas inspection • No inspection criteria available • Improper securement unlikely to be identified during inspections

  32. Comparison Accident • Lack of design standardization • Seat anchorage failure in six previous accident investigations • Similar accidents, different postaccident seat conditions

  33. Similar Accidents Burnt Cabins, PA Tallulah, LA

  34. Vehicle Intrusion Comparison Burnt Cabins, PA / Tallulah, LA

  35. Seat Anchorage Failure Seat attachment T-bolts from the accident

  36. Metallurgical T-bolt Testing • Hardness of 3 out of 4 accident T-bolts was below SAE Grade 1, the lowest industry-rated bolt • Hardness of steel correlates with yield stress and tensile strength • Hardness of floor track was higher than hardness of T-bolts • No standards or industry requirements

  37. Seat Anchorage Systems Neoplan National Seating

  38. Finite Element Modeling • Investigate pullout of Neoplan T-bolts • Compare to National Seating hardware • Determine forces applied to the T-bolts in the accident • Understand why Neoplan seating anchorages unable to withstand crash forces

  39. Impact and Reactions Impact from Occupant of Trailing Seat Primary Reaction Forces at Floor Attachment Bolts Tension Compression

  40. Simulation – Oblique View

  41. Simulation – End View

  42. Impact from occupants of both trailing seats Impact from occupant of trailing aisle seat Impact from occupant of trailing window seat Force Comparison 12000 10000 National Seating 8000 Bolt Force (pounds) 6000 4000 2000 Neoplan 0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 Bolt Displacement (inches)

  43. Seat Anchorage Summary • National Seating anchorages were more robust than Neoplan anchorages • National Seating anchorages would have retained the seats in the Tallulah accident • Neoplan hardware was inadequate to retain the seats in the Tallulah accident

  44. Motorcoach Occupant Protection • No Federal regulations or standards • Europe’s ECE80, Australia’s ADR66 • More robust hardware currently available • Occupant safety paramount in design • Inadequate Neoplan hardware failed • Increased passenger injuries resulted

  45. Summary • Anchorage failures by passenger impact or intrusion • Different seating system designs • Inconsistent occupant protection • Inadequate to withstand crash forces

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