With the advent and growing popularity of battery-powered portable electronic smoking devices, on behalf of the motorcoach industry, ABA reached out to FMCSA for guidance on the use of these devices on motorcoaches. Today, FMCSA responded by releasing a safety advisory concerning e-cigarettes and similar smoking devices.
Unfortunately, from ABA’s perspective, this advisory does not provide sufficient guidance for motorcoach operators in terms of permissibility of the use and storage onboard motorcoaches. Not unlike the airline industry, bus operators need more explicit guidance to ensure the safety of the traveling public on their vehicles. “Considering the use of lit tobacco is clearly prohibited today, by federal regulation (49 CFR 374.201), ABA simply wants the same clarity established for e-cigarettes and other portable smoking or vaping devices before tragedy strikes,” said Peter Pantuso, president and CEO of the American Bus Association.