Wayland Union Schools’ fleet of 24 buses recently finished with 100% green tags during the bus safety inspection.
At least once a year, the Michigan State Police send an inspector to conduct an analysis of more than twenty areas on every school bus. Buses are graded on a three-color system. Green means the bus is safe to operate. Yellow means there’s a problem, but it’s still safe to carry students. Those buses must be repaired within 60 days. Red means the bus has a serious safety issue and must be pulled until it is repaired and re-inspected.
For the 2021-2022 inspection year, WUS buses finished the inspection with green tags.
“Our school buses travel approximately 350,000 miles each school year,” said Tim Washburn, Transportation Supervisor, “we’re very proud of the hard work and dedication from our head mechanic, John Syers, mechanic assistant, Ryan McKinney, and the bus drivers who alert them of any potential repairs throughout the year.”
State inspections include an evaluation of the following parts of each bus: Body and Sheet Metal, Brake System, Chassis and Frame, Emergency Exits and Aisles, Engine and Drivetrain, Fuel Systems, Glass, Lighting and Electrical, Mirrors, Miscellaneous Equipment, Paint and Markings, Seats and Barriers, Service Door, Special Needs Equipment, Steering, Suspension, Tires, Wheels and Hubs.
Maintenance is important to safety in any vehicle but in school buses it is vital, good job to all involved.