Keeping bus travel safe this summer

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has launched “Look Before You Book,” a campaign to help passengers choose a safe bus when traveling this summer.

"Interstate bus travel is one of the safest means of transportation," according to Loretta Bitner, chief of the Passenger Carrier Safety Division at the FMCSA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Price in transportation should not be the only factor that passengers think of when it comes to traveling, according to Bitner.

If a passenger wants, he or she can get the app “Saferbus,” which is a free way to review a bus company before buying a ticket or booking group travel. The app is available for iPhone, iPad and Android.

In addition, passengers can also check out the website www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ to look up information regarding if the buses they want to take are properly registered, if they are insured, their safety history and any concerns.

How do you "look before you book it?" A passenger can pull up the application and enter the name of the bus company. Once the company comes up, the information will be available for consumers to look at.

Once on a bus, there are some things passengers can do to make sure the trip stays as safe as possible.

If a bus driver is speeding or texting while driving the passenger can call 911 and report it to local authorities. Passengers can also file a complaint on the website http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ on the national complaint database.

Check the surroundings on the bus and become aware of the emergency exit, roof hatch and the push widows are. Also use hand holds and hand rails to avoid slips and falls.

There are about 4,000 commercial interstate bus companies operating in the U.S.. That  doesn’t include municipal bus companies that are in the city or school bus companies