Police are looking into a recent New York bus accident that killed the driver of a tractor-trailer and injured at least 30 tour bus passengers.  They're focusing their investigation on the exact location of where the bus was when it was hit and how fast it was going.

As we recently reported on our New York personal injury blog, bus accidents in the area often turn deadly.  The size and power of these vehicles can be deadly; the fact that they carry dozens of passengers means accidents often result in disaster.  That was the case with the fatal bus accident in the Bronx we told you about that killed 14 passengers and injured another 9.

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Our New York personal injury attorneys would like all residents and visitors to remember to research and investigate tour bus companies before purchasing a travel ticket.  Oftentimes low-fare tickets result in low-quality service.  While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration continues to make attempts at tightening safety regulations and enforcement, fatal accidents continue to occur with alarming regularity.

So far, investigators have concluded that the New York City-bound Farr's Coach Lines bus was getting back onto the highway when it was hit from behind by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 90 near Waterloo.  Both vehicles reportedly burst into flames.  The driver of the tractor-trailer died on site.  The bus carried 52 passengers, at least 30 of them sustained injuries.

The bus driver was cited because his license was suspended one year earlier after receiving a number of speeding tickets, according to police.  He did have a valid driver's license in Canada though, according to CBS New York.

There have been a number of fatal bus accidents already this year.  More than 30 people have been killed in these accidents and another 323 have been injured.

Despite all of these deaths and injuries, the U.S. Department of Transportation is patting itself on the back because they've issued as many imminent hazard orders putting unsafe bus and truck companies out of service as in the previous 10 years combined.  If all of these busses have been put out of commission, then why haven't more lives been saved?

"From Day One, I have pledged to put public safety above all else, and we will continue to take action when we see carriers placing passengers at risk," said U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We have seen the tragic consequences of unsafe practices - whether it's ignoring fatigue regulations, providing inadequate driver training, or failing to conduct the proper maintenance of a bus or motor coach. We continue using all of the tools at our disposal to get unsafe carriers off the road and hope that Congress will act on our proposal to provide us with the necessary authority to expand our safety oversight."

The FMCSA has supposedly issued eight out-of-service orders in the last four months.

"I'm proud of FMCSA's efforts to crack down and take action on unsafe interstate bus and trucking companies," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "Our safety investigators, inspectors and state partners will continue demanding that motor carriers and their drivers adhere to safety requirements. While most of the industry operates safely, I also look forward to working with Congress to add new tools to prevent unsafe companies and drivers from operating."

Apparently these enforcement efforts aren't doing the trick as accidents continue to take the lives of innocent passengers. Again, riders are urged to look into a busing company before booking a trip.  Don't be fooled by cheap fares and luring advertisements.