School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Vermont brakes for school bus safety

MONTPELIER, Vt. — Over the past two years, Vermont's Department of Motor Vehicles has been conducting school bus safety equipment checks in num...

September 1, 2005
2 min to read


MONTPELIER, Vt. — Over the past two years, Vermont's Department of Motor Vehicles has been conducting school bus safety equipment checks in numerous locations throughout the state.

Some of the major items found were cracked frames, brakes out of adjustment or not functioning properly and pre-trip inspections not being conducted.

Ad Loading...

Does this mean that all drivers are not completing the pre-trip inspections as required by law, or that the mechanics are not performing the high quality of work that should be completed on the school bus? I don't think so.

I believe that most school bus drivers and mechanics are dedicated professionals who take pride in their work. In speaking with drivers and mechanics, I have found that they are trying to comply with state laws and that the safety of schoolchildren is a top priority.

I have spoken with several school busing companies and school districts in regard to the state laws regulating school buses. I explained the following:


  • A school bus shall at all times be maintained in a safe operating condition.


  • A systematic preventive maintenance program shall be established.


  • Records shall be kept and shall be available at all times for inspection by any enforcement officer.


  • School bus drivers shall perform daily pre-trip inspections of their vehicles and immediately report in writing to their supervisors any deficiencies discovered that might affect the safety of the vehicle.

    Violation of the above could result in a fine up to $1,171, in addition to administrative penalties being levied.

    When school bus safety checks are administered, the company or school district is given a 30-day notice that their school bus fleet will be checked. Even with the 30-day notice, we have taken numerous vehicles out of service. Other visits to the operations are unannounced.

    All of the inspectors who assist in the safety inspections have a school bus operator's CDL with passenger endorsement and are certified in the use of the newest brake-testing equipment.

    It usually takes a half hour for two inspectors to complete one school bus. At the end of the inspection, a written safety-check summary is given to the transportation fleet manager so that all defects can be noted and repaired. If a vehicle is taken out of service, a green defective-equipment sticker is placed in the driver windshield and remains there until all defects are corrected.

    Our goal is to ensure that the buses on Vermont's highways are safe. To accomplish this, school bus fleets must have a solid maintenance plan, the drivers must be well trained and do complete pre-trip inspections, and school bus regulations must be properly enforced.

    — INSPECTOR RONALD RICHER
    Transportation Program Specialist
    Education & Safety Unit
    Vermont Department of Motor Vechicles

Topics:Safety
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Safety

Graphic promoting Geotab’s new fleet investigation tool, featuring a screenshot of the MyGeotab platform showing an incident timeline, vehicle activity, and mapped route data.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseSeptember 1, 2026

Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents

Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.

Read More →
Cover of a Pro-Vision whitepaper titled “Doing More With Less: A Transportation Director’s Guide to Managing Safety Budget Uncertainty,” featuring school buses, a school transportation scene, and safety technology imagery.
SponsoredAugust 27, 2026

Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty

With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.

Read More →
Avigilon camera installation at Hamilton Township School District, New Jersey, with text reading "How to Build a More Secure School Bus Yard."
Safetyby Elora HaynesAugust 25, 2026

How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours

As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic featuring FMCSA Chief Safety Officer Steve Dowling alongside the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration logo and U.S. Department of Transportation seal.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsAugust 20, 2026

FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know

Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.

Read More →
Graphic reading “School Zone Speed Programs Work” beside a school zone speed limit 20 sign with flashing warning lights, featuring Verra Mobility and School Bus Fleet logos.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseAugust 20, 2026

New Study Finds School Zone Speed Safety Cameras Cut Speeding Violations 97%

A Florida university's research demonstrates that Verra Mobility's automated enforcement changes driver behavior and significantly improves school zone safety.

Read More →
Graphic promoting the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2026 National Roadway Safety Strategy, featuring the report cover and the text “A New Roadmap for Roadway Safety.”
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsAugust 20, 2026

What Changed in DOT’s New National Roadway Safety Strategy?

The federal agency's new plan shifts its focus to safer people, roads and vehicles, with a new three-pronged approach instead of five. One outlined action even addresses a key industry concern around illegal school bus passing.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Waymo’s fully autonomous legacy Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan at a crosswalk with a red overlay and text reading "Are Autonomous Vehicles Ready to Safely Navigate School Bus Stops?"
Safetyby Elora HaynesAugust 11, 2026

Are Autonomous Vehicles Ready to Safely Navigate School Bus Stops?

NHTSA is accelerating autonomous vehicle deployment through new safety standards and commercial approvals. See why school transportation leaders are watching.

Read More →
Graphic promoting a school bus safety public service announcement featuring NFL Hall of Famer Lomas Brown. The graphic shows Brown speaking in front of a stopped school bus with students crossing in a video displayed on a laptop screen, alongside the headline, "Lomas Brown Says: 'No Rushing Around the School Bus,'" and the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsAugust 10, 2026

NFL Star Lomas Brown Kicks Off New Illegal School Bus Passing PSA

Just in time for the back-to-school season, the former Detroit Lions offensive tackle took time to record a video encouraging motorists to slow down around school buses.

Read More →
Graphic titled "NSC Award Winners" featuring two group photos of National Safety Council award recipients. One group holds an "Our Driving Concern Employer Traffic Safety Award" banner, while the other poses with a recognition plaque at the 2026 Texas Traffic Safety Conference.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettAugust 4, 2026

How Two Texas Districts Built Award-Winning Safety Programs

Learn how Prosper ISD and Rockwall ISD earned National Safety Council honors through hands-on training, safety culture, and strategies that reduced transportation incidents.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."
Safetyby Elora HaynesJuly 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Read More →