Plan would relax inspection rules for school bus drivers

Having Volunteered all through my school career, I feel confident that all of the correct and required safety measures are in place to protect the pupils and citizens of va beach. I have known Mr. Pace everyone at transportation to be nothing but always exceeding their best and striving to find ways to improve.

Having worked training people in Tractor Trailer operations for a good number of years I can say that often the DOT regs can be a bit confusing. Yes, the driver of the vehicle is to preform a "pre-trip" inspections prior to operating their vehicle. One of the problems is when they check items - like shaking the shocks - they don't know what they are looking for as a result. When a mechanic "shakes a shock" they can determine is something is wrong by the reactions. When a non-mechanic does the same thing, they have no clue what the results are telling them.

Anyone have a link to more detail on these checks? What's accomplished by shaking the shocks? Checking the coolant is a good idea to avoid an expensive cracked engine block, but I don't see how it's a safety check.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety regs, huh. Well you better get over to Richmond and set em' straight.

What I am curious about is if every person who rants on here follows every single state and federal law in their daily life. You never speed, change lanes without signaling, etc. Good, now that we know you live in a glass house you best watch your stones. THINK about this people. Do you inspect ANYTHING on your car EVERYDAY (other than the tires to make sure there is air and the gas gauge to make sure there is fuel). Yes the previous post is correct the busses don't go to the shop every night but if/when a driver has an issue the SHOP comes to THEM! Do the ranters really think that bus drivers have a "come what may" attitude about their JOB! No they don't put kids in harms way--- if something seems off with the bus they go to the shop or the shop comes to them--EXACTLY LIKE you do with your car.
I want to stand up an praise these bus drivers, I can teach 30 kids in a classroom all day (and some people don't understand how) but to drive a bus with 70 screaming kids in traffic-- there is no amount of zero's on a paycheck that would have me switch roles. AND YES-- YOUR children are the ones screaming-- they all are! Don't blast a bus driver until you are willing to do what t

In Virginia Beach, the Virginia Beach School Board, Superintendent, and Transportation Department have brazenly disregarded parts of the inspection requirements for years. The public should expect nothing less than following the existing rules and regulations. These officials should answer as to why the safety of children is not paramount to them.

these buses DO NOT go to the garage every night. Federal law requires the OPERATOR to do a DAILY pre trip safety inspection. As previously mentioned, why do we want to exempt a vehicle that's carrying our children?? Besides that, a state agency cannot legally exempt anyone from a federal law. Can you spell LAWSUITS?

are in every school division. It would seem reasonable that instead of eliminating the requirements, they could change who does certain types of inspections. I would probably think the school system bus mechanics would know whether mechanical components underneath the bus are satisfactory or not, and have the drivers do the more routine checks like the coolant, lights, brakes, etc.

i don't disagree with checking a lot of things on any vehicle.we all have cars,trucks,vans,and almost every day of the year we drive these and haul our precious cargo around (children/family)with us.honestly how many of you do a simple 5 minute check before you take off in the morning,IE,lights tires,mirrors etc,or even warm up the engine.grant you there is a lot more responsibility when you have passengers.i check my lights,oil,battery,and tires once a week on my pickup.if i go on a long trip i will check everything in more detail.a bus driver should only have to,check under the hood about once a week,but do a walk around inspection first thing in the morning,while the bus is warming up with all the lights on,and thump the duel tires.you should not have to check the oil every day unless the equipment is high mileage,or you see fluid under the vehicle engine/transmission/rear end area.i would rather a qualified mechanic do the crawling around under a bus than a driver,most bus drivers aren't mechanics and,IMO are not qualified to check the undercarriages.

Every person that drives a commercial vehicle must do these checks. Why should the people that carry CHILDREN not have to do a SAFETY check? If you can't do your job there is someone that can. Even more so now that the economy is going in to the toilet. Would you feel safe if the person driving a dump truck behind you didn't check his truck out every morning? A bus is just as big and it carries children. Great idea lets skimp on the safety of children.

The State Board of Education has no authority to exempt anyone from a federal regulation. This is going to lead to trouble.