BISC Security Tips

Facilities

• Conduct a risk assessment of company facilities including exterior, internal, employees, and bus safety.
• Provide company photo IDs to all employees
• Control access to non-public facilities by non employees, vendors, etc.
• Establish designated employee parking areas
• Establish video surveillance systems for facilities
• Establish or hire a security force.

Drivers

• Companies may consider developing standards that would address on-road coach security and fully support driver security decisions made with regard to passenger ejections, refusal to board and other decisions made on the coach.
• Provide company IDs to all drivers (photo ID preferred).
• Enhance driver pre-trip announcements and procedures to include a check of the fire extinguisher for tampering, clearing bins of all personal affects at destinations, and notification to passengers that terrorist acts on mass transportation systems are now a Federal crime. (A standard script will be developed by the Safety Council in conjunction with Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration.)
• Establish driver walk-around inspections at all stops with receipts showing inspection has been completed.
• Establish driver communication systems that may include: cellular phones, GPS units, en-route check in, and “panic” buttons.

Equipment

• Secure baggage bay doors at all times when not attended by company personnel. Door securement to be included in walk-around driver inspection.
• When developed, install driver activated external trouble indicator light for motorcoaches that will alert others to problems within the coach (standard color, light type and installed full length of coach.)
• Install transparent divider that will sufficiently protect the driver’s back.
• Install or use night lights to illuminate passenger compartment.
• Avoid high-risk parking areas, look for well lit, locked, secure places to park motorcoach at all times.
• Develop emergency response contingency planning for drivers.
• Replace convex interior view mirror with flat, more realistic view mirror.
• Install Global Positioning System emergency beacon that could be activated during an emergency.

Public Policy

• Support the creation of a Federally funded Bus Marshal program as part of the Transportation Security Administration.
• Establish random check procedures and conduct random passenger and baggage checks.
• Prohibit the consumption of alcohol by passengers (including reserving the right to refuse service if passenger appears intoxicated).
• Work with state and local law enforcement to eliminate the use of motorcoaches to remove undesirables from their jurisdictions.
• Prohibit dangerous goods on motorcoaches in the passenger compartment (guns, knives, mace, etc.) Signage to be developed by the Safety Council.
• Designate an individual in each company with responsibility for all aspects of security.
• Erect signs in boarding areas that notify public that terrorist acts on mass transportation systems are a Federal crime (recommended signage to be developed by the Safety Council).
• Conduct company wide training to help employees identify and respond to potential threats.
• Establish procedures that will link passengers and baggage (passengers should not check baggage and fail to board the coach).
• Deny further ticketing services to ejected passengers.