Commercial buses traveling around Northern Arizona will be getting a closer look from the Arizona Department of Public Safety soon.

Commercial buses traveling around Northern Arizona will be getting a closer look from the Arizona Department of Public Safety soon.

The DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau along with the National Park Service will conduct comprehensive safety inspections of all tour buses and large passenger vans entering the Grand Canyon National Park at its south entrance, including those travelling from Sedona to the park, DPS reported.

Buses and vans that make a Las Vegas to Sedona or a Las Vegas to Grand Canyon run are at risk for tired drivers, DPS Lt. Bernard Gazdzik said.

Drivers are supposed to log no more than 10 hours of driving without rest, he said.

A total of 50 officers will take part in the commercial vehicle inspection detail, which runs from Wednesday, Aug. 22, through Saturday, Aug. 25.

With approximately 4 million visitors to Sedona and 6 million to the Grand Canyon each year, many of who arrive there on a commercial tour bus, it is important for law enforcement to pay special attention to the commercial buses that have come from all over America, a DPS press release stated.

During this special detail, officers will be inspecting everything from vans designed to carry up to 15 passengers to motor coaches.

They will examine elements critical to the safe operation of these vehicles such as brake systems, tires, passenger compartments and drivers’ log books, the press release stated.

“Although we inspect buses on a daily basis all over the state, we are concerned about the trend where bus drivers are driving more than they should,” Gazdzik said.

Passenger carrier crashes make up about 2 percent of all commercial vehicle accidents in Arizona. However, this does not minimize the priority of insuring the safety of these vehicles by placing special emphasis on them at this detail and at other details around the state, according to information from DPS.

“While Arizona has not had a major bus incident in recent years as other states have, it is important that law enforcement makes a concerted effort to insure buses are meeting critical safety regulations so we can avoid potential catastrophes,” Gazdzik said.

These types of vehicles pose a potential threat to the vehicles around them, he said.

Gazdzik said anyone in the Sedona area who suspects buses or drivers are in violation of safety rules should call 1-928-913-0950 to report it.

Mike Cosentino can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 128, or e-mail to mcosentino@larsonnewspapers.com