The number one thing to remember when driving 40-55 kids to/from school: safety first. Besides handling the safety within the bus by having the kids stay seated until they hear the parking brake engaged, or by staying out of the aisles throughout the ride, I also need to manage the hazards outside the vehicle. Defensive driving is a high priority. Anticipating the idiot to be texting and driving and then pull out in front of me...a must. Preparing for a sudden stop because a college kid thinks that they can squeeze in front of me as lanes merge...also a must. But both of those scenarios, and numerous others that come with defensive driving, are things that I am prepared to do, and able to avoid if I am doing my job.
BUT, what I cannot do is control what happens when I stop the bus and unload kids. The yellow lights are blinking, I open the door and they turn to red and a stop sign comes out from the side of the vehicle. You've seen it. 1/3 of the deaths of children come from people running these stop signs. Even if it is a 4 lane road that is only divided by a yellow stripe - YOU MUST STOP. The only reason for you not to stop is if you are on the other side of the road AND there is a PHYSICAL barrier between you and the bus, such as a median. If you are on the same side you are never to pass a bus with a stop sign.
Ridiculous. Children could be killed. I'm taking my video camera to work Monday...
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