GRAND CANYON, Ariz. The motorcoach inspection blitz conducted annually at Grand Canyon National Park resulted in a noticeably higher bus out-of-service rate this year, but the percentage of drivers ordered off the road dropped.

This years safety inspections were conducted over a two-day period, versus three days last year, but nearly as many buses were checked by officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the National Park Service and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

A total of 207 coaches were inspected with 28, or 13.5 percent, put out of service for mechanical violations. The most significant violations noted by Arizona Highway Patrol inspectors were brakes, tires, exhaust leaks, stop lamps/turn signals, and battery corrosion.

Corrosion on batteries and battery cable ends continues to be a controversial topic during bus inspections because keeping batteries totally corrosion free can be challenging.

But, as has become painfully obvious in recent years, any coach maintenance personnel who arent regularly checking coach battery compartments for corrosion and getting rid of it are inviting out-of-service orders.

Seven drivers, or 4 percent, were placed out of service during the Grand Canyon checks, with the most significant violations being hours-of-service infractions, false records of duty status, suspended drivers license and not wearing corrective lenses as required.

One driver was arrested on a Grand Canyon National Park warrant for an unpaid violation from two years ago. Twenty-eight drivers were cited by the National Park Service for permit violations.

FMCSA inspectors, apparently checking agency databases, found one coach that did not have operating authority.

This years inspections were conducted Aug. 14-15. Last year, the inspections took place Sept. 26-28.

A total of 218 motorcoaches were inspected last September, with a vehicle out-of-service rate of 9 percent (20 coaches). The driver out-of-service rate last year was 10 percent (22 drivers).

The Grand Canyon is not necessarily a wonderful spot to be placed out of service. Although some maintenance services are nearby, the nearest city, Flagstaff, Ariz. (population 66,000), is roughly 90 miles away. Phoenix is nearly four hours away and Las Vegas is four and one-half hours away.