About 90 percent of school buses in New Jersey fail surprise inspections, according to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

Each bus in the state gets two scheduled inspections. The Motor Vehicle Commission's mobile inspection unit also gives on-the-spot inspections without prior notice.

"When you're carrying this many people this many miles just going through a stop sign of a light or a brake goes on you or a tire blows and you lose control ? it could be catastrophic if you have a load of kids on the bus," says Tom Bednarz, who is in charge of inspections.

Buses found with mechanical problems are immediately pulled off the road until fixed. Bus companies are given 30 days to correct lesser violations such as ripped seats.

Concerned parents can jot down school bus license plates and hit the Motor Vehicle Commission's Web site to access inspection information.

State of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission