Traveling by bus can be a nice way to sit back and relax. Some even like to listen to music or read. Others just take a nap. No doubt, for many New York residents, taking a bus is looked at as a safe and rather convenient way to get to a travel destination.
This is why it may come as a shock to learn the Lucky Star bus company was recently shut down by the federal government. The discount service, which operated buses between Boston and New York City, was shut down due to safety concerns. According to investigators, not only were the buses dangerous, so were the drivers.
Among the issues found, investigators said the drivers were not required to pass alcohol or drug tests and that the company did not look over their driving hours.
In terms of the actual buses, according to investigators, there was at least one time that a bus was dispatched from the company that had a 4-foot-by-2-foot hole in the bottom, along with a good amount of frame damage. However, even though the bus was clearly in need of repair, the company sent it out to pick up passengers anyway.
In just a little over a year, Lucky Star buses have supposedly broke down more than 80 times.
However, one should not think this is the only bus company to have issues in the New York City area. In fact, just a few months ago the Fung Wah bus company was also shut down. For this company, their federal license was revoked after investigators found several issues, including bus frames that were cracked.
The Fung Wah bus company was another discount service offering rides from Boston to New York City.
In looking at the fact that these two bus companies are now closed — with both offering service to and from New York City — it goes to show that just because a company is in operation, it does not mean that it is safe. In fact, while Fung Wah is now closed, in 2006 several people were injured in a rollover bus accident and in 2005 passengers narrowly escaped injury when a bus was engulfed in flames.
In the end though, regardless of what company it is, when passengers are injured on buses there are often legal options available. This can end up leading to much needed compensation for medical expenses and pain and suffering.
Source: Boston Business Journal, “Lucky Star, New York City-Boston Bus Service, Shut Down By Feds,” Associated Press, June 6, 2013
