LANSING, Mich. — Vehicle safety inspectors with the Michigan State Police (MSP) Traffic Safety division have completed their annual, 198-point safety inspection of all public and private school bus fleets statewide.

Of the 17,220 buses inspected during the 2007-08 school year, 90 percent (15,503 buses) passed, representing an increase from 2007, when 89 percent (15,448 buses) passed inspection.

A certificate of excellence was presented to 384 school districts whose fleets achieved a 100-percent pass rate.

"This is the most districts to receive a 100 percent pass rate since the MSP began conducting mandatory inspections in 1990," MSP Director Col. Peter C. Munoz said. "The high number of buses passing inspection exemplifies the commitment of school bus transportation managers to school bus safety, further ensuring a safe transportation system for Michigan's schoolchildren."

Buses that do not pass inspection receive either a yellow or red tag. Yellow-tagged buses may continue to operate as long as the defects are repaired within 60 days. Red-tagged buses are immediately placed out of service and cannot be used for pupil transportation until the defects are repaired.

During the 2007-08 school year, MSP inspectors placed yellow tags on 344 buses, which represents 2 percent of the buses, and red tags on 1,373 buses, representing 8 percent of the buses inspected.

The complete inspection results by school district are available on the MSP Website, www.michigan.gov/msp.