Why my kid does not, and will never, ride the school bus

[blas]

My boyfriend's mother quit letting him ride the bus after a horrendous bus accident that happened right nearby their house, when he didn't have his license yet.

And after his brother was old enough for school, she wouldn't let his brother ride, either.

When we first started dating, I went to his house one morning after work and asked why his brother didn't ride the bus, and that's when I got the story.

We have some real bad Mrs. Crabtrees around here, mixed with the fact that schools refuse to close school even in the worst of snowstorms.

[Merriweather]

We lived briefly (when I was in 4th grade) in the small rural community my Dad had grown up in, at the edge of the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. Keep in mind, this was back way more years than I'd care to admit. The grammar school, as it was still known then (grades 1 - 8) was small, and only had a few busses. These were typically driven by seniors from the town high school.

[Seshat]

What sucked was his prosthetic arm was delivered to the house two days after the funeral when he finally lost the battle.

Now THAT is sad. My sympathy.

[Engmfj]

Wow, I guess I'm seriously lucky to live in a town with superb bus drivers

[mattm04]

The worst driver I had just assumed the no one was on the bus for a almost every top. To get them to stop you had to yell, at which point they slammed on the brakes and came to a screeching stop. Luckily they only lasted a week or so.

The best one took a many field trip runs as possible and always took the long, long, way home after. Did we just accidentally arrive back at school just as it ends for the day. Opps.

[XCashier]

They replaced him with a guy who was missing a hand. He had a hook in place of the missing hand, and a knob on the steering wheel that allowed him to grab it with his hook. Surprisingly, he was one of the best bus drivers I ever had.

Undoubtedly, he knew his limitations and took more care driving to compensate. Wish more drivers had that kind of sense.

[PepperElf]

one of mine would hit us on the head BOP if we picked on him or touched his hat.

I mean sure I know kids in 4th - 6th can be shitheads but ... that's no cause to hit them.

[Blue Ginger]

One of our bus drivers got fired after stopping across train tracks at a red light.

It was a T-intersection where the train tracks went parallel to the top of the 'T'. Our driver decided that the bus could fit in the space that was only big enough for a mini between the lights and the tracks.

All I can say is that we were really lucky an express train didn't come through while the lights were red.

And I'm pretty sure the driver was deaf after having 30 girls screaming at him and calling him every name we could think of.

[fireheart]

The school bus services around these parts are part of the same bus service as your everyday bus line. So I've had a few good and a few sucky drivers either way. Especially the ones who don't get the concept of "When I press the big red button, that means STOP!"

[Pojodan]

In all my youth of riding school buses only one event really stands out.

Was in Redmond, WA at the time, about 11 years old. During the school day an ice storm had blanketed the area, which led to everyone in the school staying at the school for over 2 hours past our usual departure time (This event led to creation of 'activity packs' that were there in case of such things in the future)

Finally, they decided to get everyone home, since the buses had chains and they didn't want hundred of parents getting on the icy roads to come get their kids.

Part of my bus' route was going down a steep road down to the shore of Lake Sammamish. On the way down, with the bus going maybe 5 mph, the bus lost all traction and started to slide.

After about 50 feet the bus hit the berm of snow on the side of the road, where it got enough traction to slow back down, but the damage was done and a good half of the kids on the bus were crying in terror.

We ended up sitting on the side of the road at the bottom of the next hill that I lived a short distance up, the driver deciding it was too dangerous to continue, and tried to radio in for assistance while the kids on the bus comforted each other.

After about a half hour the parents started showing up, having gotten word and braved the icy roads to get their kids. Thankfully there wasn't any accidents and everyone got home safely.

[PepperElf]

With the proper training and equipment, amputees or people with paralysis of certain limbs can drive just fine. My father used to work with an occupational therapist and a modified car, teaching these people how to drive with the modifications.

My driver ed teacher in high school had a modified car for his wife. For whatever reason she couldn't use her feet, so the steering wheel had controls for gas and brakes.