SPRINGFIELD — Illinois has a new law that officials say will improve the safety of students riding on school buses, and Unit 5 bus drivers already follow the rules.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed a measure Tuesday that requires all Illinois school bus drivers to inspect their buses after trips to make sure no children or other passengers are left unattended on the bus.

Buses also will have to be equipped with radios so drivers can receive alerts.

“All of our drivers and monitors are already required to check their buses after every route,” said Joe Adelman, director of operations for the Normal-based district. “When the check is completed, they place a sign in the back window of the bus, indicating it has been done.

“Just last week, we re-trained all of our drivers and monitors on how to complete this process,” Adelman said. “We will continue to review safety procedures at future training sessions.”

Last week, a Unit 5 driver and monitor were suspended after a 4-year-old boy was left asleep on a bus. Earlier, another monitor was accused of disciplining a child on a bus; this week, several students were pricked by a lancet device left on a bus.

Quinn says the new law “prevents children from being left unattended on a school bus and also ensures that bus drivers receive important information while on the road.”

Drivers who don’t comply with the post-trip checks could have their permits suspended.