By Joyce Kryszak
Albany, NY – Children who ride school buses will be able to breathe a little easier beginning this fall.
The New York Association for Pupil Transportation and the EPA signed an agreement Monday that will shut buses down more often to help reduce diesel exhaust fumes.
The new idling agreement, in addition to the existing Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program, are expected to make school bus rides much safer.
Each day of the school year, nearly three million children ride on fifty five thousand school buses across New York State.
That's about 900 million rides back and forth to school per year.
And that means children, with tender lungs, are breathing in a lot of harmful diesel fumes.
According to the EPA, idling emissions can contribute to bronchitis, asthma - and premature mortality.
Association Director Peter Mannella said they don't want stuff happening on their buses that is harmful to kids.
WBFO's Joyce Kryszak talked with the Association Director Peter Mannella about the changes.
You can hear that interview by clicking the "listen" icon above.