PITTSBURGH,None — Target 11 spent the past several weeks going through school bus inspection reports from every county in our area. Investigator Rick Earle also requested the citations issued to school bus drivers, bus companies and school districts during the past five years.
Frankly, there were a lot fewer than we expected. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts pulled the records for Target 11 and the uncovered only 28 citations issued since 2005. Most of those citations were issued to drivers for speeding.
PDF: State School Bus Inspections: Pittsburgh PDF:State School Bus Inspections: Washington State School Bus Inspections: Belle Vernon State School Bus Inspections: Westmoreland County State School Bus Inspections: Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer
Target 11 examined all of the citations and we found one for a brake problems on a Connellsville Area School Bus, and another citation for missing safety equipment on a Belle Vernon Area School bus.
Officer Tom Jacques is a commercial vehicle inspector for the city of Pittsburgh Police department.
He issued numerous citations to a bus company last spring after inspecting a school bus involved in an accident.
Jacques told Target 11 he discovered that three of the four brakes were out of adjustment, a broken emergency buzzer and broken u-bolts.
"We're hoping that a citation will get them to realize that maintenance is priority one," Jacques said.
"Police can pull you over at an time for anything they want to pull you over for. And really that bus should be able to pass any inspection at any time," said First Student Manager Mike Bacco, who told Target 11 that maintenance is the top priority.
To make sure bus companies are keeping their vehicles in good working condition, State Police conduct annual inspections.
Inspectors examine every inch of the bus from inside to outside to underneath. They look at everything from the condition of the seats, to the brakes to the emergency exits. Target 11 obtained inspections reports from every county in our area.
In Allegheny County, 1,687 buses were inspected this summer. Six of them failed.
In Westmoreland County, 912 buses inspected and 93 failed.
In Butler, Beaver, Lawrence, Armstrong and Mercer counties, Police examined 1,847 buses. 172 did not pass.
Trooper Brian Davies told Target 11 Investigator Earle why some buses fail the initial inspection.
""Major violations such as cracked frames or cracked springs, bad steps going into the bus, or it may need bodywork," said Trooper Davies, who also indicated that bus companies are given a chance to fix the problems on the spot.
Davies said if the problem is so severe that it can't be fixed during the inspection, the bus won't pass.
Companies are given a second chance and Police will reinspect the bus after improvements are made. Most buses pass the reinspection.
Target 11 discovered this year that one county had a perfect score for inspections. In Washington County, the 542 buses inspected passed the initial inspection.
The most common violations inspectors discovered were burned out lights, broken emergency buzzers and malfunctioning crossing gates and side stop arms.
In addition to these required annual inspections, police also conduct surprise inspections and they will issue citations for violations discovered during these inspections.
"It keeps everyone honest it's a good thing, said Roenigk transportation manager Aaron Silverman, who said all of his buses passed the initial state police inspection with flying colors.
"It's very important that our most prized commodities are in safe hands and in safe vehicles," said Jacques.
We have posted all of the inspection reports for counties in our area as well as the citations issued to bus drivers, companies and school districts.
WPXI
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