Bus Stories

I am a School Bus Driver, and have been for many years. I enjoy working with kids and I enjoy driving. I talk to many people that say that they could never drive a school bus because of having to put up with the kids or whatever. However, I have found that if you let them know what they are and aren't allowed to do and stick with the rules, you will have very little problems. One of the biggest problems that I have encountered is other motorists. Let's face it, no one wants to be behind a slow moving School Bus that is going to be stopping every few blocks. Believe it or not, that bus doesn't necessarily want you to have to stop that often either. However on some roads it just isn't safe to pass a bus or for the bus to pull over for you to pass it. That driver has the safety of every child on that bus to consider, which may be up to about 65 kids or more. That driver has spent many hours in training and has to attend Safety meetings once a month in order to maintain their license to drive that bus. So, if you are ever around a bus, don't be this guy....

and go speeding by.....
or when you see this sign....

slow down and be ready to stop...
It just may be that the driver will wave you by before he/she opens the door, but if they don't...remember...the safety of the child is the main concern on that driver's mind, not the fact that you are running late for work.

Ten little drivers, cruising down the line.
One had a heavy foot and then there were nine.
(Speed limits are for your safety)

Nine little drivers, the hour was getting late,
one dozed a moment, and then there were eight.
(A tired Driver is a Dangerous Driver)

Eight little drivers and the evening seemed like Heaven.
One showed his driving skill, and then there were seven.
(The road is no place for a clown)

Seven little drivers, their lives were full of kicks.
One bought a bottle and then there were six.
(PLEASE DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!!!)

Six little drivers impatient to arrive.
One jumped a traffic light, and then only five.
(Don't gamble life for a few seconds)

Five little drivers, wheeling near the shore
One viewed the scenery, and then there were four
(Keep your eyes on the road at all times)

Four little drivers, Happy as could be,
One passed a car on a hill, and then there were three.
(Never pass when you can't see)

Three little drivers, busy it is true.
One neglected car repairs, and then there were two.
(Keep your car in top running condition)

Two little drivers, and the day was nearly done.
One didn't beam his lights, and then there was one.
(Adjust driving to weather conditions and darkness)

One little driver, who's still alive today.
By following the Safety Rules
He hopes to stay that way!!!

Once upon a time, a brand new. 19 year old, mildly-over-confident, part-time school bus driver innocently and unknowingly agreed to take the fateful "Hot Springs Run."

He loved to drive the big yellow bus. It made him feel powerful. He thought he was so cool because he had gotten his certificate in just two weeks with only five hours behind-the-wheel. Wow, was he good or what? He thought so.

The young driver was very green but eager to drive anything, anywhere, to make some money. He should have driven a semi so he could carry his ego around with him. The "old" transportation crew got together and decided that the cocky new hot shot needed to be initiated. A route trade was arranged and the unsuspecting new kid happily accepted the "Hot Springs Run." It was the longest run there was and though he had never been to that little mountain town before, it was a small bus and he was a great driver, so what could go wrong? It was a 24-passenger bus and a beautiful hot June afternoon.

The city raised new kid pulled up to the high school in his button-down collar and his lily-white cottn shoes and began to load his passengers. he had never been exposed to cowboy hats that could barely get through the door and belt buckles that could double as serving trays. He wondered about the perfectly round wear mark on the boy's hip pockets and why would they cram a big wag of gum into one side of their mouth and just leave it there? He would find out why up close and personal when directed to clean up the bus.

Some of the girls had cowboy hats and they looked like they were wearing paint-on jeans. These creatures were not from the same planet that he was raised in. But he was good and he knew that he could handle anything.

The Hot Springs kids had all grown up together in the small red-necked mountain community and they were quite a team. It was Friday afternoon and the boring hour and forty five minute bus ride was all that they had to look forward to. They were no strangers to welcoming substitute drivers aboard and this day there was fresh new meat hat looked ready to fry. The prospect for a fun ride home was looking up.

The unsuspecting driver started out and smiled politely in the mirror especially at the cute little cowgirls who were almost his own age. Anxious to impress his passengers with this ultimate and supreme authority, he made an example of the first minor infraction he saw. One louder than necessary laugh and he threatened the big kid with the black hat that he had better turn around and sit quietly while riding the bus. "You have to show them who's boss," he thought proudly. There was a strange silence. That was quickly followed by a whisperring and what soon was to become a bus ride that he will never forget.

"Change the channel, turn up the radio," they yelled. He responded with the diplomatic explanation of "If you are going to yell like that, you certainly don't need the radio on!" CLICK!!! "That should reach them," he thought. They decided to make their own music by singing songs that would have embarrassed any self-respecting drill sergeant. He couldn't believe the words that he was hearing, especially from those cute little girls. He also didn't know what some of them meant. His shouting for them to be quiet seemed only to raise the volume. Now things were beginning to get lively. It was a game of "push the driver" and he was playing better than they had hoped. There were unlimited offers for help on directions. After a few dead ends and a dirt road into an orage grove, he realized that he was on his own.

The fragrance of burnt matches soon filled the air. Every face in the rear view mirror took an angelically innocent look. This looked well rehearsed. He immediately stopped the bus and proceeded to lecture them about the dangers of a lighted match on a school bus. What were they thinking about? Didn't they know who was in charge here? They all knew all too well. More whispering ensued.

They were not about 10 miles out of town and ready to begin the climb up the mountain. He looked up into the rear view mirror and noticed that all of the students had moved toward the center of the bus. With a loud count to three they all stood up and in perfect unison began to rock the bus back and forth. The unruly bunch of pranksters instantly changed a discipline problem into a life threatening display of stupidity. The small vehicle quickly became almost impossible to keep on the road. With some difficulty, he brought the bus to a stop in front of the only sign of civilization for quite some distance. It was a middle-of-nowhere bar and pool hall. He secured the bus, took the keys and angrily began to exit the bus.

"Where are you going?" they laughed. "I'm going to call my boss because if I go any further with this bus someone will get hurt.....and it may be me." "There isn't any phone in there," they jeered. "Sure," he scoffed. He had grown very tired of their lies. He went in to use the phone and found out there was no phone in there What kind of backwoods place is this? "Where is the nearest phone?" he asked the woman cleaning behind the bar. "There's one at the fire station about a half a mile down the road but it's for emergencies only." she replied. "Well this certainly qualifies as an emergency," he said as he dreaded the thought of having to call his boss.

He went outside to drive to the fire station and being particularly observant, he noticed that the bus wasn't where he had left it. As a matter of fact, it was gone altogether. He checked to see that the keys were still in his pocket and then saw a hint of yellow about a quarter mile down the road. The little darlings had released the brake and pushed the bus back toward town. It was clear that the score was kids about a hundred and bus driver nothing. It was also clear that he was no match for them. He had lost miserably. His head hung in defeat, he hiked to the fire station and called for rescue.

The district sent another driver out to take them up the hill, and of course they were model passengers for that driver. The now more experienced young driver packed up what little was left of his pride, and watched his bus disappear into the foothills.

As he drove the district car back to the yard, he kept seeing the faces of those students he just left. They were no longer wearing cowboy hats, but he envisioned them having very short hair cuts and wearing striped shirts with large numbers on them. This seemed to help in a twisted sort of way, but the lessons for this day were not yet finished.

He drove very slowly to insure that there would be no one else at the yard when he returned. However, the thoughtful crew that had set him up in the first place, had all, ever so patiently, waited to welcome him back. Like vultures, picking at a dead carcass, they pried out all the gory details of the trip that they could. The Spanish Inquisition must have run in a similar manner. Everyone but the young driver, had a great time reliving the trip. Humiliated, but much wiser and still very alive, he vowed that he would never allow a situation get out of control like that again.

To this day, I have made plenty of other mistakes, but I clearly recognize the danger signs of loss of control.

The moral of this story for me is to leave my ego home when I drive. Don't expect anyone to sit quietly with their hands folded on a school bus for an hour and forty-five minutes. Try to understand a little bit more about the students you transport and the area you are going to . Finally, treat other people with at least a little respect and you may get some in return.

I hope that this story sparks some thought and maybe some conversation about what you would have done or at least what should have been done. It was a life taught lesson for me.