MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
A Division Of The
Department of Public Safety
Public Information and Education Division - PO Box 568 - Jefferson City, MO 65102
NEWS RELEASE

For further information, please contact: Capt. John J. Hotz
Q662017-1 (573) 526-6115

June 6, 2017
EMPHASIS: Patrol Provides Results Of Annual School Bus Inspection Program

Colonel Sandra K. Karsten, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the results of the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division's 2017 annual school bus inspection program. A total of 12,047 school buses across the state of Missouri were inspected by Missouri State Highway Patrol personnel between the dates of February 2 and May 5, 2017. Of all buses inspected, 90.24% were approved by inspection personnel with no defective items noted during inspection.

During the annual school bus inspection program, buses found to have no defective items are rated as "approved.” Buses having one or more defective items which do not constitute an immediate danger are rated as "defective.” Buses with any defective items which constitute an immediate danger are rated as "out-of-service.”

Buses rated as "defective" may continue to be operated for the purpose of transporting students until repair is made. School districts are allowed 10 days following initial inspection to repair identified defects before being re-inspected by Highway Patrol motor vehicle inspection personnel. Buses rated as "out-of-service" must be repaired, re-inspected, and placed back into service by Highway Patrol motor vehicle inspection personnel─prior to being used to transport students. Buses not presented for re-inspection within the required 10-day period are reported to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Statewide 2017 annual school bus inspection results are as follows:
Buses rated as "approved" upon initial inspection -- 10,871
Buses rated as "defective" upon initial inspection -- 925
Buses rated as "out-of-service" upon initial inspection -- 251

A total of 276 Missouri school districts earned the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence Award, obtaining an approval rating of 90% or higher with no out of service buses. During the 2017-2018 school year, 6,181 buses in these award-winning fleets are eligible to display the Total Fleet Excellence sticker in the lower corner of the first window on the passenger-entry side of the bus.

"The annual school bus inspection program is one of the ways the Missouri State Highway Patrol serves and protects our children,” said Colonel Karsten. “Ensuring they have safe transportation to and from school and related events is a priority for the Patrol. I appreciate the positive working relationship shared by the Patrol, school districts, and private transportation companies. This professional relationship is directly responsible for the success of the 2017 annual school bus inspection program."

School bus inspection results are a matter of public record. Individual school district results are available on the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division webpage at
http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/PatrolDivisions/MVI/index.html.


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