TORONTO, (April 14, 2008) - Ninety-four per cent of school buses tested during a two-week safety blitz held between March 17 and 28 met or exceeded Ontario's tough safety standards.

The ministry inspected 1,903 buses for:
- mechanical fitness
- evidence of daily vehicle inspections and
- driver qualifications.

The ministry ordered minor repairs on 92 buses and took 12 off the road
for significant repairs. The Ontario School Bus Association works with the ministry to ensure school bus operators keep their buses safe. The province will continue to conduct random inspections of school buses in the future.

QUOTES:
"The safety of the province's children who ride to school every day in a bus is of paramount importance. We have tough standards for school bus safety, and we will continue to enforce them," said Transportation Minister Jim Bradley. "We will be meeting with the industry to discuss how we can make our children even safer."

QUICK FACTS:
- School buses continue to be among the safest ways for students to
travel. Research shows that riding the school bus is actually
16 times safer travelling in the family car.
- Before drivers can operate a school bus in this province, they must
first meet Ontario's strict licensing criteria. New drivers must:
- Undergo a criminal record check
- Meet strict medical standards
- Complete a School Bus Driver Improvement Course.
- Ontario requires that all school buses must undergo a safety
inspection at least twice a year. School bus operators that fail to
meet Ontario's safety standards face some of the highest fines in
North America - up to $20,000 for companies caught operating an
unsafe bus.
- About 800,000 Ontario students travel in 18,000 school buses every
day, covering more than 1.9 million kilometres of road.

LEARN MORE

Parents, teachers and drivers should check out the Ministry of Transportation's School Bus Safety webpage for more information on how to keep kids safe on the bus.