‘Makes no sense’
Too early in school year for buses to be plagued with problems: Peter Whittle
Peter Whittle, an education advocate and former president of the school councils’ federation, says it’s puzzling how, a month into the school year, buses could have so many problems that they were pulled off the road.
“It makes no sense that a month ago all these buses were best kind,” said Whittle, calling on the government to rethink the bus inspection policy and the way it awards tenders to private companies based on cost savings.
Whittle said the Department of Education needs to step up on children’s safety.
“The chief bus driver in this province is (Education Minister) Dale Kirby,” Whittle said.
Whittle noted that for years concerns about the lack of competitive rates have been brought to the province from both private bus operators and advocates for safety.
At the same time, the province was shutting down community schools in favour of large districts, creating the need for more buses. The situation that came to a head this week was a self-fulfilling prophecy, Whittle said.
“When I see emergency exits jammed, corroded, rusted …,” Whittle said.
“To me, it’s unacceptable the board is willing to play Russian roulette with our children going to school every day.”
He said it’s time for the government to consider tendering independent inspections for buses or require them all to be done by Service NL.
On Wednesday, it was revealed nine of 18 school buses operated by a Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s company have failed government vehicle inspections.
During the week of Oct. 10, the Motor Registration Division of Service NL inspected 18 school buses that are owned by Island Bus Services in Portugal CoveSt. Philips. Of the 18 inspected, Service NL placed seven out of service and put two buses on restricted service, meaning they are unable to carry passengers.
Defects identified included a fuel leak, leaking brake lines and inoperable emergency equipment, which included emergency exits (doors and windows) seized shut and flashing lights not operating.
The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District arranged with another bus contractor to do the Larkhall Academy and Leary’s Brook runs until Island Bus Services can demonstrate it has enough Service NL-approved buses to complete those runs. The company will continue its Southern Shore routes with its safety-cleared buses.
The owner of the bus company has not returned a request for comment.
Service NL could not say who exactly inspected the company’s buses this summer.
The department said the incident is under investigation and Service NL is unable to comment on whether all buses were inspected by the same official inspection station. Once this investigation is complete, Service NL will review the process to see if there are any changes to be made to improve public safety, the department stated in an email.
Official inspection stations must have a journeyperson mechanic on staff, Service NL said.
There are some school bus contractors registered as official inspection stations. However, Service NL insists the official inspection stations are also inspected annually by highway enforcement officers.
Under the current inspection program, school buses must be inspected by an official inspection station twice annually, in July and December.
The Motor Registration Division conducts announced and unannounced inspections. These inspections demonstrate that the system is working, the department said Thursday.
According to the department, highway enforcement officers from the Motor Registration Division inspect all school buses between September and December, and in spring they conduct an inspection of a minimum of 30 per cent of the fleet.