A megabus driver checks tickets as passengers board a bus for Chicago on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, in Iowa City. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

Megabus, a low-cost bus company that serves Iowa City and Des Moines, ranks near the bottom of all motor carriers for driver fatigue, a condition that has similar effects to drunken driving.

Although the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration gives Megabus its highest safety score of “satisfactory,” the company’s poor driver fatigue score – unmatched by other local bus lines – has caused concern about the carrier known for double-decker buses and ultra-cheap fares.

“It’s disturbing,” said Matt Starns, a University of Iowa junior from St. Paul, Minn., who has taken four trips on Megabus. “I certainly don’t want to take a bus when the driver is about to fall asleep.”

Chicago-based Megabus, which has 50 buses and 150 drivers who have logged 9.1 million miles so far this year, scored a 78.9 percent in driver fatigue from the motor carrier safety administration, which collects state and federal enforcement data. This means Megabus’ fatigue record is worse than nearly 80 percent of 19,636 motor carriers.

Would the driver fatigue report cause you to reconsider riding on a Megabus? Have you ever traveled on a Megabus?