Annual inspections of Northeast Ohio church buses by state inspectors reveal more than one in four fail inspection for major safety issues.

Ohio law requires annual inspections of church buses performed by the Ohio Highway Patrol that enforces specific safety guidelines outlined in Ohio’s Church Bus Inspection Manual, which is available to general public on the Highway Patrol’s website.

According to sources, out of the 111 that were inspected, over 30 buses failed to pass.

Among the citations found were delaminated brakes, worn tires, headlights and horn not working and in some cases, buses “rotting away” from the inside out.

State Trooper William Hoberg commented on the necessity of the safety inspections: “Whether it’s a marker light, a stop light or something like that—it could ultimately lead somebody behind them didn’t see the light come on and ram right into the back of them. We want to get them around safe and sound.”

Church buses that failed inspections were mandated to return with all faulty issues repaired before a state inspection sticker is issued and the bus permitted to be legally on the road.