Earlier today, the Governor’s Office informed the Mayor’s Office that the Utilities and Transportation Commission will order inspections and reviews of all “Ride the Ducks of Seattle” vehicles and driver records. The UTC will seek to suspend the operations of the fleet until the inspections are complete.
Today Gov. Jay Inslee and Mayor Ed Murray released the following statements:
“Safety must be our paramount goal. Last week’s tragedy demands that all precautions and safety measures be taken before the Ducks resume operations. Because of the fleet’s advanced age, extensive use and unique design, requiring additional scrutiny to ensure they are safe is absolutely critical,” said Mayor Murray. “I am pleased by the UTC’s intention to conduct thorough inspections and reviews of the entire fleet to determine if they are safe and pose no public safety risk to the public should they resume operations. Over the last few days, I have expressed, and the Governor shares, my concerns about the public safety risk these vehicles pose. A review by the UTC is the prudent thing to do in the interest of protecting the public.”
“The UTC committed today to inspecting each of these vehicles and reviewing each driver’s record. The UTC will meet Monday to address its authority to suspend company operations pending completion of those inspections and review,” said Governor Inslee. “I believe that until we can be assured that each of these vehicles and drivers have been inspected they should not be back on Seattle streets. The city, the state and the federal government need to work together closely as multiple investigations move forward.”