Show We Still Have Unsafe School Buses IT TT T IS AMAZING and provoking to learn from the latest report on safety of school buses in Utah that many defects still exist in the buses inspected by the highway patrol and that In many cases little or no progress has been made toward elimination of unsafe features during the past 12 months For instance there were still 9 9 buses with defective foot loot brakes compared to 98 last year ear 27 with defective emergency brakes compared to 30 18 with faulty exhaust pipes c compared to 29 17 with condemned exhaust pipe heating systems compared to 25 12 with faulty headlights headlights headlights head head- lights compared to 7 14 with faulty rear lights compared to 12 16 with ith no clearance e lights compared to 22 Des Despite the fact that state regulations require require re reo re- re quire that buses carry skid chains fire extinguishers extinguishers ex ex- ex first aid kits and tool kits a number number number num num- ber of buses still lacked this equipment Many buses had either cither no or defective stoplights speedometers rear view mirrors windshield wipers mufflers horns or tires Yet all of these are required by law on all vehicles operated operated oper opere in Utah It is inexcusable that no greater progress toward complete safety of school buses operated operated oper opere in this state has been made during the past year School authorities have h had d ample time to comply with all safety regulations With very few exceptions failure to comply is not a question of money because the expenditure expendi ture lure required to meet safety regulations is nominal It is nothing less than deliberate refusal to comply The state highway patrol and safety organizations organizations organ organ- have been campaigning on this school bus safety program for almost two years All the school authorities know about it as do parents par par- parents who should be sufficiently concerned over the safety of their children to to see to it that school officials correct defects called to their attention by the patrol But apparently a mere educational campaign and the influence of public opinion in the various school districts is not enough We need something more The state patrol says it is handicapped by alack a alack I lack of legal authority to compel compliance with safety requirements We challenge that view Under Under Understate state law the highway patrol is charged with the responsibility of inspecting all motor vehicles operated upon the state highways highways high high- ways and seeing to it that they are in safe condition condition con con- and that they have all required equipment equipment equipment equip equip- ment in good working order The law says specifically that no person shall drive any motor vehicle on any highway if its required equipment is not present and in good working order or if it is in such unsafe mechanical conditions conditions con con- as to endanger the occupants or any person upon the highway That's a pretty broad statement It should be possible under the law for the highway patrol to bar from the highways any school bus which I is unsafe or lacks required equipment And that's exactly what should be done without any further warnings or procrastination or hesitation tion over the risk of stepping on a few political political cal toes |