By Dave Millhouser

No. 27833 still rings in my head -- 38 years later.

It was the part number for the "improved" wheel we were shipping by the pallet load to everyone operating our newest model of bus.

The front wheels on the sleek coach were cracking and we were terrified that a catastrophic failure would launch one of those puppies off the road.

New federal regulations decreed that buses had to meet a more stringent stopping standard. Not a bad thing.

In this case, our engineers had altered weight distribution to make the brakes more effective, but the added weight on the steering axle was too much for the wheels.

Our competitor increased wheel size as part of its effort to meet the mandate. The larger tires whacked their HVAC duct on every bump, degrading climate control.

A well-intended regulation had serious, unforeseen, consequences.

Currently, the motorcoach industry is subject to regulation by the FMCSA, NHTSA, USEPA, USDOT, state and local jurisdictions, plus thousands of pages of IRS regulations. The health care-system overhaul hovers like an amorphous cloud; no one is certain what it will precipitate.

These agencies are well intentioned, and its hard to argue with safety, a clean environment, and good business practices.

On the other hand, it appears the number of unintended consequences multiplies geometrically as the volume of regulation grows.

Its not politically correct to say it but achievement in pursuit of these admirable goals must be graded on a "curve."

No one is against safety but there is a limit to what we can afford. A 5 mph speed limit would do the trick, but thats unreasonable. What IS reasonable? Were looking for a balance ... one that is carefully adjusted as technology and knowledge move forward.

Require too much mandatory safety and emissions equipment and operators cant afford new coaches (and must continue to operate older, less safe ones). Force old buses off the road, and people will ride in cars that are more dangerous and exacerbate congestion and pollution.

Whenever theres an accident, well-intended people call for more inspections, although few accidents are caused by mechanical failure. Audits can identify log violations, which do matter, but do nothing about aggressive driving.

Currently, we have the specter of a company, forced out of business by the FMCSA, popping up again and again. More inspections wont end this episode of Whack-a-Mole. Good companies navigate a maze of rules, while convicted bad guys evade them and roll on.

Clean engines are great, but how clean? The cost of meeting recent mandates has driven one engine manufacturer from the market, leaving less competition. Often cleanliness is achieved at the sacrifice of fuel economy, engine life and maintenance requirements, and they cost a ton more.

There comes a tipping point where regulation begins to do more harm than good.

Were there.

Well-intended folks, people who want to "make a difference," as well as opportunistic politicians and lawyers, are creating unforeseen consequences that will shrink our industry, waste energy, befoul the environment, and hurt people.

The cost of buying equipment, conforming to government mandates at every level, and administering all the "stuff" is driving good companies out business.

Folks, we are the greenest, safest, most fuel efficient form of ground transportation, and theyre bleeding and killing us.

When charter companies disappear, people either dont go or take cars, increasing congestion and pollution. Tourism suffers.

A myriad of federal, state and local regulations makes it difficult to start scheduled-run service, and hundreds of small towns are left without service. Entrepreneurs decide its just not worth it.

That may be OK with some politicians. They create a problem and then use government to fix it, gaining power as they go.

The elderly, students and the poor suffer most -- at the hands of people who think or claim theyre helping. Give us a break, and well get folks where they need to go without spending billions on inefficient rail projects, and with far fewer subsidies.

Another unintended consequence of overregulation is the burden it places on small companies. Large companies dont love regulation, but they have some economies of scale in dealing with drug testing, accounting and other disciplines.

Government lacks the moral "high ground" as long as it depends on revenue from demonstrably unsafe toll booths, or allows transit authorities to operate under less stringent regulations. Any business that traded safety for revenue in similar fashion would be castigated.

It would help if regulators were successful veterans of the industry they control. They might try talking to each other, so theres less conflict and overlapping. We need fewer rules but we do need consistent, predictable enforcement.

Oxygen is good. Its 20 percent of the air we breathe. Divers know that if you breathe it in the wrong proportion, its toxic.

Regulation is the same. In the correct proportion, it can benefit an industry and the public. Apply too much pressure, and it will kill the industry and those it serves.

Dave Millhouser is a bus industry marketing consultant and freelance writer. Contact him by email at Davemillhouser@gmail.com.