Virginia Beach, Va. - A NewsChannel 3 investigation uncovered documents showing Virginia Beach School District has more than 100 buses past their recommended 15-year life cycle.
Some parents worry that could pose a danger.
“They should update the buses cause old engines, the wear and tear and new tires,” Latasha Johnson, who lives in the city, said. “It could cause accidents if you have wear and tear tires.”
But the school district says they plan to replace those buses.
As part of their proposed operating budget, they’ve set aside money to replace 23 buses starting in the fall - leaving nearly 100 older buses on the fleet.
Until those new buses hit the pavement, the school district says older models are safe for your child.
“If a bus is unsafe, it won’t be on the road,” Jay Cotthaus, the Director of Transportation for the City, said. “They do go through a 40 day cycle – through inspection. They are treated the same as a new bus.”
Ohio based bus safety expert Jeff Cassell agrees.
“Whether it’s twenty years old or brand new – the things that matter, steering, brakes, tires will be just as equally as safe,” Cassell explained.
A major benefit with newer buses, Cassell says, are its enhanced safety features.
This includes additional emergency exits and seat padding.
But one thing is missing on their list and some parents aren’t' happy.
“Seat belts should be on school buses,” Johnson said.
“They need to have seat belts on buses,” Natalie Hudson, who has two grandchildren, said.
The district say they only installed seat belts on special needs buses because those student have certain needs.
However, Hudson says seat belts would’ve prevented her cousin from being injured in an accident.
“The bus ran into the back of the car and the children that were in the very front of the bus accidentally fell out of there seat,” Hudson said.
Cassell says even though people think using seat belts are effective, they aren't. He says recent studies have shown seat belts only save one student per year.
“Last year, Florida put a school bus with 26 kids into a water, every kid got out. What would you have done with seat belts? In danger zones – is where we kill kids - outside the bus,” Cassell explained.
He says more important than the buses age are those who are driving it
“The driver controls everything. The driver is the one that makes mistakes,” Cassell said.
But he says those big yellow buses are still the safest way your child will get to class.
Cassell says bus replacement has to do more with maintenance cost and dangerous emissions.
Virginia Beach School district will finalize their budget for next school year - later this month.
