GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, § 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 2754.

House Bill 2754 would increase the maximum speed limit for school buses to the posted speed limit on all interstate highways in Virginia, which is 65 mph for most Virginia Interstates. Current law restricts the maximum speed limit for school buses to 55 mph on any highway where the speed limit is 55 mph or more.

School bus safety is a paramount concern for parents who rely on the state to transport their daughters and sons to and from school every day. House Bill 2754 jeopardizes our children's safety.

The Virginia State Police and the Department of Education oppose this bill because research proves that slower travel speeds reduce the potential severity of a crash involving a school bus. Vehicles traveling at higher speeds experience more crashes. Stopping distances also increase with higher rates of speed. The evidence confirms that school buses traveling at slower speeds are significantly safer regardless of the travel speeds of other vehicles on the highway. Furthermore, most school buses are not equipped with seatbelts.

Additionally, according to the Virginia Association of Public Transportation, 85% of all school buses in Virginia are not capable of sustaining 65 mph due to drive-train specifications.

As policy makers and stewards of our public school system, it is our responsibility to protect the safety and welfare of our children by reducing school bus passenger fatalities and continuing the strong school bus safety record we have earned in the Commonwealth by keeping school buses at safe speeds on our highways.

Accordingly, I am returning this bill without my signature.