Missouri Highway Patrol reports 11% of school buses failed safety inspection

Before children started riding buses to school this week for the first days of classes, the Missouri State Highway Patrol revealed approximately 11% of buses failed inspection or were taken out of service, according to an analysis by The Center Square.

The driver and vehicle safety division of the patrol released its 2024 school bus inspection report in June. Approximately 600 private and public schools operate buses, which are required to be inspected annually at an official motor vehicle safety inspection station. The inspection must take place no more than 60 days prior to the bus being operated during the school year. Most school buses are presented for inspection during July and August, according to the patrol’s “School Bus Inspection Regulations Manual.”

“Through the unified effort of Missouri State Highway Patrol personnel and pupil transportation professionals statewide, the successful inspection of 11,360 school buses occurred in accordance with Missouri revised state statutes,” Colonel Eric T. Olson said in a statement. “The Patrol, Missouri schools, and private pupil transportation companies share the common goal of keeping our schoolchildren safe while they travel on school buses.”

The patrol reported 10,055 (88.5%) buses passed inspection. More than 24 items are inspected. The patrol reported 895 buses (7.8%) were rated defective during an initial inspection and 410 (3.6%) were rated “out of service.”

“Buses with identified defective components require repair within 10 days,” according to a media release from the patrol. “Buses placed out-of-service require correction of the component(s), and reinspection and a return to service by Patrol personnel prior to further usage in transporting passengers.”

An analysis of school districts with 100 or more buses found St. Louis Public Schools, with services contracted to the Missouri Central Bus Company, had the most problems with the inspections. The company had 51 of 253 buses (20%) rated defective and 20 (8%) were placed out of service. Missouri Central ended its contract with St. Louis Public Schools before the end of the 2023-24 school year.

Fort Zumwalt, Rockwood, Park Hill, Fox, Kansas City and Mehlville – all with 100 or more buses – had 100% of buses pass inspection. The St. Louis County Special School District had the largest number of buses in the state inspected (279) and 98.2% passed.