Letter to the editor: Back off the school bus
Do we really value the safety of our children? I’ve been behind the wheel of a school bus for roughly 10 years, in two different states, opposite sides of the country, driven semi trucks for a major shipping company 22 years prior to that so I feel I’ve possibly put in the time to make a few requests to drivers concerning school buses and safety.
Most school bus drivers “normal” routine is to drive an AM pick up route as well as a PM to take our youth back home again. Often much of the AM route is in the dark, driving a rattling, squeaking, large metal box, with limited visibility, down residential streets, trying to negotiate parked cars, road construction, dogs and cats, to pick up our youth in an effort to get them safely to school. It’s a labor of love and most districts fight to keep drivers.
It’s a “part time” job that regardless of however much they pay (which isn’t much considering your cargo) could ever be enough. Drivers deal with bullies, loud and vulgar language, kids throwing things, fighting, the list and possibilities are endless and boy could we all tell some stories! School bus drivers do all of this while, yes, DRIVING. Driving a vehicle 40 feet long in the same traffic that you often struggle with in your personal vehicle. So why do school bus drivers often find others tailgating, turning out of driveways in front of us, passing us (often with our red stop signs out), cursing at us as they pass, etc?
I get it. Sometimes I’m late, in a hurry, not a big fan of those that drive below the speed limit or just poor drivers in general. I’ve made my living driving my whole adult life and feel I’m a pretty good judge of others’ driving skills and actually have awards from my previous employer for my safety skills. So I’m asking, pleading, back off, give the school bus driver a break!
Mom, Dad, we don’t care that you’re late. What we care about are the 40–50 kids on our bus. We’ve got a tight schedule as well. We also have a GPS monitor on our bus so the powers that be know exactly how fast we’re going and where we are and can be terminated if we go over the speed limit. Don’t tailgate us, we’re NOT going to speed on your behalf because we actually care about our kids. Don’t turn out in front of us because you think we’re slow. Most buses accelerate quickly, probably faster than you realize and we just want to get to that next stop in time so our kids can count on us and parents aren’t calling the office wondering where we are. Don’t shout obscenities or give finger gestures as you pass us. Imagine your child or grandchild on the bus, appropriate behavior? Nope.
Last but probably the most important, stop when we put on our flashers and stop signs. You can’t be in that much of a hurry. Most stops take only a minute or two. Is it worth hitting a child and possibly killing them? No. There are children killed every year by people that do this. While we’re at it, if you see a bus near you, put down the cell phone or at least pay attention. I can honestly say most people who drive through my stop signs are on the phone! Many of them realize it once they do and have a look of horror as they eventually stop. On that same note, on at least a daily basis, I wait as the left turn lane empties and someone on a cell phone doesn’t move and I sit through another cycle or more.
So in a quick summary, give your school bus drivers a break, back off, leave earlier, don’t cut them off or give them the finger, especially if you’re on your phone! Stop when the lights and signs tell you to. Pay attention to buses. They are driving our future generations, all while dealing with the same problems you face on the road, as well as a plethora of student problems most are incapable of even imagining, while being on a “tattletale” GPS AND video. Think you’re tough, nerves of steel and a great driver? Come on down to the bus yard; there’s always a seat open.
Kevin Baker
The viewpoints expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Independent.
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