Hank Investigates: Idle threat

This school bus is breaking the law. And this one. This one. And more. Driver's getting away with it and putting students in danger.

Michael Grealy, Parent
"It's really not a healthy situation."

Our hidden camera investigation found school buses across the state illegally spewing toxic diesel fumes from their exhaust pipes.

Mary White, Parent
"It worries me because these are who I trust my children with."

Though fumes are invisible results are unmistakable: more and more kids with breathing problems especially asthma.

Jim Comlan, MA Dept. of Environmental Protection
"It's really that simple, this is a public health problem."

That's why Mass law says five minutes of idling is the absolute limit after that: all engines must be shut off.

But start the clock at this Waltham school, remember 5 minutes of idling is the limit.

Two turned off the engines instantly but this one chugged away for almost 15 minutes.

Brookline: 8 minutes. Cambridge: 12 minutes. In Medford where anti-idling signs warn "young lungs at work", we clocked this bus at almost 16 minutes. More than three times too long.

At this Worcester school the bus arrives and the engine stays on. And on. And on. The fumes go through that open door and into the school for almost 10 minutes.

Hank
"Does that concern you at all as the principal?"

Dr. Sheila Graham, Principal
"Sure."

Hank
"Did you this was going on?"

Dr. Sheila Graham, Principal
"No."

At another Worcester school, this bus pumped out exhaust for MORE than 10 minutes.

Hank
"That's twice as long as you're supposed to."

Bus Driver
"I didn't realize that I had been idling that long."

And in Boston every school we checked had buses parked with engines running way too long: 14 minutes, 16 minutes, 18. 21.

Michael Grealy, Parent
"It's insane. Something should be done."

At this school the open door leads to the cafeteria. Three buses here broke the law, one running for up to for 8 minutes. This is where Mary White's 2 kids, both with asthma, go to class.

Hank
"Do you think this is putting the kids in danger?"

Mary White, Parent
"It is, it really is."

Department of Environmental Protection officials have tried to stop it. We found state stings hit bus companies with big money fines.

But our investigation proves their crackdowns are not keeping kids safe.

Hank
"In every community we checked they were breaking the law. How can that be?"

Jim Comlan, MA Dept. of Environmental Protection
"It's its a constant battle to try to keep people obeying this law."

Here's why its a losing battle: there are just 12 state inspectors and 8500 school buses and drivers.

Jim Comlan, MA Dept. of Environmental Protection
"The DEP cannot be following every bus every day to make sure its not idling."

This driver claims she just wasn't paying attention.

Hank
"So you are aware of the law?"

Driver
"Yes I am."

But others may not be. The DEP hands out this training video to warn drivers: turn off your bus.

But state law does not require instructors to show it or, in fact, to give any emissions training. Driver manuals we found don't even mention the rules.

Bottom line: thousands of children are being illegally exposed to an invisible threat; their health may simply depend on who's in the driver's seat.

Mary White, Parent
"Something needs to be done. I think maybe we ought to take the law more serious."

As a result of our investigation, state officials now say they'll send out their inspectors again. They warn drivers should take the law seriously and that's no idle threat.

For more information on the MA idling reduction law:
Massachusetts Dept of Environmental Protection:

(Copyright (c) 2006 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)