School districts across the U.S. need to hire additional school bus drivers. Often, experience driving a large, commercial vehicle is not required, although the applicant generally must have driving experience. One Florida school district states that once someone passes the written test for a Commercial Driver’s License, the school district will teach the rookie bus driver to drive the bus in 62 hours. The important quality that the school district was searching for was a love for children. While any parent would want the driver entrusted with the safety of their child to be compassionate, most parents would consider that experience driving a very large vehicle packed with noisy children would be most important.
Overall, buses are considered to be a safe means of transport, based on the relatively small percentage of total accidents (0.6% in 2012) in the U.S. However, according to a study by the Journal of Safety Research, if one compares the risk per million passenger miles, the accident rate for buses is actually comparable to that of cars. The age of the driver is closely linked to the accident rate.
Driving a school bus is generally considered to be a part-time job, attractive to those wanting extra money. Researchers found that while young, novice drivers had the highest rate of accidents, the accident rate was also significantly higher for those over 65. Accidents involving older drivers had an increased fatality rate of 18%, but the real shocker is that the risk of serious incapacitating injuries was up by 52%. Only a very small percentage of drivers who were involved in an accident were charged with any serious driving offenses (DUI, speeding, etc.). While not stated, one might conclude that age-related issues, such as slower response times, could be involved.
No one wants their child to be injured in a bus accident. However, if the worst happens, talk to a bus accident attorney in Stuart FL and protect your child’s rights. The school district’s insurance carrier would like to settle for as little as possible, even though the true costs may not be known for some time. Slinkman, Slinkman & Wynne, P.A., has over 40 years of experience with accident cases. Schedule a free legal consultation with this bus accident attorney in Stuart FL to discuss your legal options.
