The Missouri State Highway Patrol inspected 12,333 school buses across the state this spring, approving 88.5 percent of the vehicles, rejecting 9.3 percent and designating 2.2 percent as out of service.

These results, reported by Col. James Keathley, superintendent of the patrol, are based solely upon initial inspections conducted by inspection teams from the patrol.

In the inspections, any school bus found to have a defective item that does not create an immediate danger to passengers is rejected; however, the school bus may still be used to transport students. The defective item must be repaired within 10 business days and reinspected by the patrol inspection team.

Any school bus found to have a defective item that creates an immediate danger to passengers is placed out of service. The bus may not be used to transport passengers until the proper repairs are made and it has been reinspected.

Fleets that obtain an approval rating of 90 percent or higher earn the distinction of "Total Fleet Excellence." This year, 288 fleets achieved Total Fleet Excellence, and the more than 7,300 school buses in those fleets will begin the 2009-10 school year with the Total Fleet Excellence sticker affixed to them.

In accordance with Missouri statutes, the patrol implements an annual, statewide school bus inspection program through its Motor Vehicle Inspection Division.