Bill Summary
The **Safe Intersections for Buses and Pedestrians Act** is a proposed legislation that aims to enhance the safety of motorcoaches by ensuring that all new covered motorcoaches sold in the United States provide drivers with a minimally obstructed forward-facing view. This act requires the Secretary of Transportation, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to develop specific safety standards within one year of the bill's enactment.
Key provisions of the legislation include:
1. **Safety Standards**: New motorcoaches must be designed to allow drivers an unobstructed view from the driver's seat, which is crucial for safe driving, especially in urban environments where pedestrians and cyclists are present.
2. **Technological Solutions**: The law permits the use of cameras or other technologies to enhance the driver's view if traditional designs cannot achieve the mandated visibility, provided that these technologies comply with existing federal safety standards.
3. **Definition of Covered Motorcoach**: The term 'covered motorcoach' aligns with the existing definition of 'bus' as per federal regulations, ensuring clarity in enforcement.
Overall, this legislation seeks to improve road safety for both bus operators and vulnerable road users like pedestrians by addressing visibility issues that can lead to accidents.
Possible Impacts
The "Safe Intersections for Buses and Pedestrians Act," as outlined in the legislation, could affect people in several ways:
1. **Enhanced Safety for Pedestrians and Cyclists**: By requiring that new motorcoaches have a minimally obstructed forward-facing view, the legislation aims to improve the visibility for drivers. This could lead to a decrease in accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists at intersections, ultimately enhancing safety for these vulnerable road users.
2. **Improved Driver Awareness and Response**: With better visibility from the driver's seat, motorcoach operators will have a clearer view of their surroundings, including potential hazards. This could result in more timely responses to unexpected situations, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring safer travel for passengers and other road users.
3. **Increased Adoption of Technology in Transportation**: The legislation allows for the use of cameras and other technological means to achieve the required visibility standards. This could drive innovation and the adoption of advanced safety technologies in the motorcoach industry, leading to broader improvements in vehicle safety standards and potentially influencing other vehicle types as well. This technological shift may also create new job opportunities in the tech and automotive sectors.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7263 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7263
To amend subchapter II of chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code,
to require that all new covered motorcoaches have a minimally
obstructed forward-facing view from the driver's seat, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 27, 2026
Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Frost, Ms. Gillen, Mr. Bresnahan, Mr.
Fitzpatrick, and Mr. Lawler) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend subchapter II of chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code,
to require that all new covered motorcoaches have a minimally
obstructed forward-facing view from the driver's seat, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Intersections for Buses and
Pedestrians Act''.
SEC. 2. MINIMALLY OBSTRUCTED FORWARD-FACING VIEW IN MOTORCOACHES.
(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 301 of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 30130. Minimally obstructed forward-facing view in motorcoaches
``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Secretary, acting through the
Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
shall prescribe motor vehicle safety standards to require that all new
covered motorcoaches manufactured for sale in the United States have a
minimally obstructed forward-facing view from the driver's seat of the
covered motorcoach.
``(b) Exception.--In prescribing motor vehicle safety standards
under subsection (a), the Secretary, acting through the Administrator
of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, shall ensure
that a covered motorcoach satisfies such standards if the covered
motorcoach utilizes a camera or other technological means--
``(1) to allow for a minimally obstructed forward-facing
view from the driver's seat of the covered motorcoach that
expands the range of the forward-facing view of the driver or
provides a view of an obstructed area; and
``(2) that complies with Standard 101.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Covered motorcoach.--The term `covered motorcoach'
has the meaning given the term `bus' in section 571.3(b) of
title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.
``(2) Standard 101.--The term `Standard 101' means Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 101, contained in section
571.101 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter II
of chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding
after the item relating to section 30129 the following new item:
``30130. Minimally obstructed forward-facing view in motorcoaches.''.
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