S.1284 - Driving Forward Act (119th Congress)
Summary
S.1284, the "Driving Forward Act," aims to permanently extend an exemption from the engine compartment portion of pre-trip vehicle inspection skills testing for school bus drivers. This exemption was previously published in the Federal Register on December 2, 2024. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of Transportation require states participating in the exemption to submit annual reports on the number of drivers obtaining commercial licenses under this exemption for a six-year period.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill is to make the existing exemption permanent, reducing the testing burden on school bus drivers. States participating in the exemption will be required to track and report data on drivers licensed under the exemption. This data collection aims to monitor the impact of the exemption on safety and driver competence.
Potential Benefits
- Potentially reduces the time and cost associated with training and testing school bus drivers.
- May encourage more individuals to become school bus drivers, addressing potential driver shortages.
- Could streamline the licensing process without compromising safety, if the exemption proves effective.
- Provides data for the Secretary of Transportation to evaluate the ongoing impact of the exemption.
- May lead to more efficient use of resources by focusing training on other critical areas.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential safety concerns if the engine compartment inspection is a critical component of ensuring bus safety.
- The reporting requirement adds an administrative burden on participating states.
- Lack of transparency if the data collected is not made publicly available.
- Possible inconsistencies in safety standards across different states, depending on their participation in the exemption.
- Risk of overlooking potential mechanical issues if the under-the-hood inspection is not performed during testing.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) of the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. School bus transportation often involves interstate travel or impacts interstate commerce. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific individual rights or liberties protected by the Constitution or its amendments.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).