Ride the Ducks vehicles could be back on the road and in the water in Seattle as early as next month. This despite state investigators finding hundreds of safety violations by the tourist company, including many for bad record keeping.A crash between a Ride the Ducks amphibious vehicle and a tour bus on the Aurora Bridge on September 24 killed five people and injured dozens of others.
A report released by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commissionrecommends the Seattle based Ride the Ducks tour company be allowed to resume operations, with a limited fleet if, the company improves its safety rating. It currently has an unsatisfactory rating from the state.
The investigation by state regulators found, among other things, that the company had violated federal law by allowing a driver to operate a commercial vehicle without a proper ommercial drivers license and had failed to conduct the required number of random drug tests on drivers. Those are some of the things the company has to correct in order to be cleared to operate again.
The company also has to come up with an improved safety plan that includes more frequent safety inspections.
The Ride the Ducks vehicles have not operated in Seattle since shortly after the September 24 deadly crash.
A three member panel of the Utilities and Transportation Commission will have the final say on Ride the Ducks resuming operations. The commission meets on Monday, December 21.
Ride the Ducks could also face more $442,000 in fines for safety violations.
