When School Buses Flunk Exams : CHP’s Inspections Are Commendable, but More Details About the Results Are in Order

The California Highway Patrol’s recent surprise inspections of 66 school buses at the Magic Mountain amusement park are worthy of note. Some 40 citations were issued, and one out of every five vehicles assessed was deemed unsafe and could not be used for the trip home. Additional buses had to be called in as replacements, and four drivers also were sidelined because they were not carrying the requisite licenses and credentials.

The buses inspected came from a variety of sources, including the Los Angeles Unified, Inglewood, Wilsona and Hesperia school districts. Others were vehicles that were not regularly used as school buses and were operated by companies serving as bus contractors or as providers of school activity buses.

The Highway Patrol is to be commended for making such surprise inspections, and the reasons why are easily stated. Thirteen of the buses had faulty brakes. Three were cited for damage to fuel systems, such as a leak that could have led to an explosion or fire. Two buses had frame violations that affected their stability, while others had defective steering or tires that were too badly worn to meet minimum safety requirements.

Having said that, however, we do have one complaint. When journalists inquired about which school districts and bus companies in the inspections recorded most of the more serious violations, they were told that the CHP had no interest in making individual districts or companies look bad. We suggest that this is important information that parents ought to have in considerable detail, even after the fact. CHP does encourage parents to inquire about their annual bus inspections (the number for Los Angeles and Ventura counties is 213-664-1108). But more specific information regarding the surprise inspections may go a long way toward encouraging more diligence among bus companies and school districts.