eed to attend most probably will not; now the safety of millions of children are at stake. One way to try to offset higher fuel budgeting is to buy new, more fuel-efficient buses. New buses will also reduce costs in maintenance and labor as well as provide the most current safety innovations. Transportation budgeting problems also make it difficult to award drivers with pay increases. This contributes to the on-going shortage of bus drivers whose average hourly wage is $10.76. School bus sales in the United States reached its highest units sold in 1999; 42,341. According to School Bus Fleet records, this beat the previous high sales record of 40,327 units sold in 1974. Sales hit a low in 1992 with only 28,564 units being sold, but then steadily increased through 1996. Sales dropped in 1997 but jumped back up in 1998, 703 units above those sold in 1996. School Bus Sales - United States and Canada (1999 Sales Year) School bus sales in 1999 were significantly higher than in the previous year for each vehicle type. In fact, total U.S. sales in 1999 were the highest ever, according to SCHOOL BUS FLEET records. The second-highest sales year was 1974, with 40,327 units. As illustrated, the economy plays a major role in the school bus industry. With rising prices and state school bus funding problems, schools are not able to upgrade their fleet to newer, safer, more fuel-efficient buses. Funding also contributes to driver pay, which in turn influences the attitude of the driver, again, affecting overall safety.Government and Political InfluenceState governments as well as the federal government dually govern the school bus industry. The federal governments major role is in setting standards for the manufacturing of school buses. There are a total of 58 regulations governing motor vehicle safety, 35 of which apply to school buses. Some of these include FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) No. 131 - School Bus Pedestrian Sa...
