New technology to improve the safety performance of buses was showcased this week by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The FMCSA demonstrated the latest state-of-the-art technology to be used by law enforcement to conduct commercial motor vehicle safety inspections.

The new technology includes:

• Wireless roadside inspection that can conduct up to 25 times more vehicle inspections a year than the current, in-person inspection process. It allows an inspector to obtain driver and carrier identity, vehicle condition and hours-of-service violations while the vehicle is traveling at highway speed.
• Smart infrared inspection that detects brake, wheel and tire problems by comparing infrared thermal images of wheels as the vehicle enters a weigh station.
• Performance-based brake testing that assesses a vehicle’s brake force and overall performance.