Dear Editor:
The start of every school year brings with it a nervous excitement for new learning opportunities, but also concerns for student safety in and out of the classroom. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) shares in these sentiments by making school bus safety a top priority.
By requiring that all school transportation vehicles pass through a comprehensive inspection process and that drivers meet specific, mandated state and federal standards, the MVC takes every step necessary to ensure that all of New Jersey’s 24,000 student transportation vehicles are making the grade all year long.
But the MVC cannot do it alone. The MVC, New Jersey school districts and school bus companies must be strong partners to guarantee student safety.
The MVC’s School Bus Inspection Unit performs over 60,000 bi-annual school vehicle inspections at 1,300 locations. This program examines 180 items on each and every school bus, school vehicle, dual-purpose vehicle and summer camp vehicle in the state. However, there is still a need for ongoing, committed participation from the state’s school districts and bus companies.
The MVC encourages school districts and bus companies to be diligent when it comes to performing regular bus maintenance and in keeping accurate and up-to-date vehicle and driver records. It is also imperative that only fully-qualified drivers be permitted to get behind the wheel of a school bus. This cooperative partnership can play an invaluable role in maintaining the safety of the state’s school buses and those riding in them.
At the completion of inspection, school transportation vehicles can be issued an approval; an out-of-service rejection, which is issued for major defects such as brakes and steering; or a 30-day rejection, given for less serious defects such as an item missing from the emergency kit or even a burned-out light bulb.
Due to the MVC’s rigorous process, an average of 48 percent of vehicles are issued out-of-service rejections at initial inspection, while an average of 13 percent are issued 30-day rejections after corrective action is taken and upon re-inspection, approximately 95 percent of vehicles are approved. Results for school vehicle inspections are contained in our School Bus Report card and are available to the public at www.njmvc.gov.
In addition to the standard bi-annual inspections, the MVC’s School Bus Inspection Unit and the New Jersey State Police, which together make up the School Bus Safety Task Force, also perform monthly, unannounced inspections. These random spot checks allow the MVC to keep an eye on school bus fleets to see if companies are performing routine maintenance on their vehicles.
The MVC’s message is clear and our partnership with school districts and bus companies is strong. We are working tirelessly in the name of safety, and we hope this brings peace of mind to parents as they wave goodbye each morning.
Raymond P. Martinez
Chairman and Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission