Illinois bus drivers must perform child-check inspections

CHICAGO — All Illinois school bus drivers are required to conduct comprehensive post-trip inspections to ensure that children and other passengers are not left unattended on buses under a bill that was signed into law today by Gov. Pat Quinn.

Failure to conduct a post-trip bus inspection can result in a school bus driver’s permit being suspended.

The law also requires school bus owners to equip their buses with two-way radios systems that enable drivers to send and receive information, requests or alerts to and from their companies, school districts or emergency service providers. Drivers are required to test the radios before their buses can be operated.

(Prior to this law, the state allowed school buses to be equipped with two-way radios at a bus owner’s discretion.)

“The safety of our children is of paramount importance to the people of Illinois,” Quinn said in a statement. “This new law prevents children from being left unattended on a school bus and also ensures that bus drivers receive important information while on the road.”

The law takes effect immediately.