Schools
School Bus Safety: How Does Your District Stack Up?
The Missouri State Highway Patrol recently released the results of its 2013 annual school bus inspection program.
Is the school bus your child rides to school safe?
Each year the Missouri State Highway Patrol inspects the buses public and private school districts across the state.
According to a press release, the Patrol inspected a total of 11,890 school buses between Feb. 4 and April 30. Inspectors approved 88.3 percent of all buses during their initial inspection.
In the Kirkwood School District, inspectors looked at 27 buses and only one was flagged as "defective." That designation doesn't knock a bus out of service; it just requires specific repairs within 10 days.
In the Troop C area, which covers St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin and Jefferson Counties, 3,748 buses from 105 school districts, private schools and bus companies were inspected. Of those buses, 3,365 were approved on the first visit.
St. Simon was the only school to receive a 0 percent approval — its one bus failed its first inspection. The two other lowest scores were 33.3 percent approval. Those went to Life for Life Academy and Lillian Schaper State School.
Several districts received 100 percent approval ratings including Affton, John Burroughs and Mehlville.
2013 Statewide Results:
- 10,493 buses received approval upon initial inspection. During the annual school bus program, buses found to be free of defective items are rated as "approved."
- 1,153 buses were deemed defective upon initial inspection. Buses with one or more minor defective items, but deemed to be safe for the transport of students, are rated as "defective."
- 244 buses were placed out-of-service upon initial inspection. Buses with one or more major defective items deemed to be unsafe for the transport of students are rated as "out-of-service."
Buses rated as "defective" may continue to be operated for the purpose of pupil transportation until repair is made, according to the Highway Patrol. School districts were allowed 10 days following initial inspection to repair identified defects before being re-inspected by Highway Patrol motor vehicle inspection personnel.
Buses placed out-of-service by inspectors must be repaired, then re-inspected and placed back into service by Highway Patrol motor vehicle inspection personnel prior to being used for the transportation of students.
"I appreciate the positive relationship between the employees of the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division and Missouri's school districts and contracting companies," said Colonel Ron Replogle in a press release. "The Patrol is pleased with the results of the 2013 annual school bus inspection program. Missouri's schoolchildren deserve the safest transportation possible when traveling to and from school each day, and Missouri's pupil transportation professionals continue to make student safety a top priority. The annual school bus inspection program continues to ensure that Missouri's school buses are among the safest in the nation."
A total of 292 Missouri school districts earned the distinction of Total Fleet Excellence, which is awarded to districts earning an approval rating of 90 percent or higher with no buses placed out-of-service.
To find out how your school district performed, type the district name into our search box.
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