Safe Intersections for Buses and Pedestrians Act Would Require Federal Government to Update Safety Standards for Bus Designs

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressmembers Rob Menendez and Maxwell Frost (FL-10) introduced the Safe Intersections for Buses and Pedestrians Act, bipartisan legislation that would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish safety standards for bus designs to eliminate bus operator blind spots. The legislation would improve pedestrian safety while causing little to no cost increases for motorcoach operators and bus manufacturers.

"We are introducing this legislation to save lives with design changes for buses that can be implemented with minimal costs," said Congressman Menendez. "Pedestrians on our streets have been struck and killed by buses due to preventable design flaws, and this bill would prevent many of these tragic incidents. The federal government should be doing everything within its power to require the adoption of bus designs that have already proven to be safe, cost-efficient, and feasible in countries around the world. I look forward to working to pass this legislation."

"Too many families have lost loved ones because bus drivers are forced to make turns they can't fully see," said Congressman Frost. "An average of 88 people are killed every year in crashes involving public transit buses, and most of those tragedies happen during left turns when a massive blind spot blocks the operator's view. That's why I'm co-leading this bill with Rep. Menendez, it simply requires new buses to give drivers a clear view so we can prevent these tragedies and make our streets safer for everyone."

"Eliminating blind spots on buses helps Bus Operators navigate crowded city streets while also increasing safety for riders, pedestrians, and other drivers," said TWU International President John Samuelsen. "The TWU strongly supports the Safe Intersections for Buses and Pedestrians Act to upgrade buses to make them safer for everyone."

Bus-to-person collisions account for 35% of all bus transit fatalities and 14% of all transit fatalities. Buses in active operation in Europe and Asia already adhere to certain design standards that prevent these accidents, which primarily occur at crosswalks when buses make left-hand turns and strike pedestrians due to a blind spot in the front left of the bus structure. In December of 2025, a pedestrian was killed in North Bergen when he was struck by a NJ TRANSIT bus.

This legislation would require the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe motor vehicle safety standards to require that all new buses manufactured for sale in the United States have a minimally obstructed forward-facing view from the driver's seat of the covered motorcoach.

Buses with cameras or other technological means of allowing a minimally obstructed forward-facing view from the driver's seat of the bus that expands the range of the forward-facing view of the driver or provides a view of an obstructed area would be exempt from these standards.

Congressman Menendez has been a leader on transit issues and pedestrian safety, having previously served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Menendez has secured millions in funding for pedestrian safety infrastructure. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and sits on the Subcommittees on Environment, Energy, and Communications and Technology.

To read the full text of the bill, please click here.

• Print
• Email
• Share