Kansas troopers inspect USD 410 school vehicle years ago
All school vehicles pass inspection
Staff writer
How do you know that the vehicles your children will ride in this fall are safe? The Kansas Highway Patrol troopers issued inspections of all school vehicles, at various times this summer, across the state of Kansas.
According to a press release from the Kansas Highway Patrol, troopers will inspect close to 9,000 school vehicles in each district before the school year begins this fall.
Assigned to this area are troopers Mike Ottensmeier, Roger Maag, and Scott Proffitt. The group will inspect all school vehicles that transport students from every school district in Marion County.
The evening we met the troopers, they had inspected the Goessel school vehicles that morning and were now in Hillsboro to inspect the 30 school vehicles used to transport USD 410 students.
"We inspected 57 school vehicles today," Ottenmeir said.
The inspection includes checking for the mechanical conditions and the equipment in the vehicles. The troopers check the wheels, tires, light systems, mirrors, emergency exits, the driver's emergency equipment, and the overall cleanliness and sanitary condition of each vehicle.
The more detailed mechanical and engine conditions are done by an outside agency that specializes in those areas.
Ottenmeir said their goal is to inspect one bus every three to four minutes.
The 30 USD 410 school vehicles include 17 yellow and black buses, eight suburbans and/or vans, and five cars and/or minivans.
All 30 vehicles passed inspection and are required to display a green sticker in the corner of each vehicle's windshield.
According to Ottenmeir, there are approximately 400 troopers and each one is qualified to do the school vehicle inspections. Ottenmeir said the Kansas Highway Patrol department has been doing the inspection since the inception of the KHPD in the 1940s.
Residents can rest assured that the school vehicles transporting USD 410 students and staff are indeed safe and meet state guidelines.
