Today, in Kuala Lumpur, a major city in Malaysia, a decision was made to stretch the life of a school bus by 10 years, going far beyond any of the recent changes that have been seen in the U.S.
For some states, extending the lifespan of a bus can mean millions of dollars in savings, and that is when it is done by a few years. But, in this city that sits almost 9,000 miles away, the government has decided to jump from 20 years to 30. But, according to the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) and its chairman, Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique, the contractors “are required to send their buses for periodical checks at the Computerised Vehicle Inspection center to ensure the vehicles are road worthy.”
Although there is no industry standard when it comes to school bus replacement cycles, most states usually hover around 12 years. In 2002, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services released a report that recommended 12 to 15 years for Type C and D buses and eight to 10 years for Type A and B buses. But, where do the savings end and safety violations begin?
