School Bus Driver

School Bus Driver

The Bus Driver

15 Years Experience

South, ..

Female, 37

I have been a bus driver since late 2006. I know the inside story, the scoop, the down low dirt of what it takes to be a bus driver, how to handle kids and adults, and how to survive on the "streets" so to speak. I used to have a blog, feel free to browse it or ask me a question here.

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Last Answer on February 07, 2021

Best Rated

Also, are you participating in the thing where they use school buses to help provide breakfast and lunches?

Asked by 02983457 about 5 years ago

Not at the moment. We are offering drive thru breakfast lunch services 2 days a week here but if this continues we will probably look at other options.

Why are some strokes mounted in the back while others are up front while others are midship? Why are some buses equipped but some not? Why are they usually white/clear instead of amber like other vehicles? Why do some flash once, some twice, others 4

Asked by Zack over 5 years ago

Strobes are there for visibility. Sometimes its just the preference of the manufacturer as to where to put it and how its installed. The newer strobes flash brighter and more often for higher visibility.

DO subs generally give feedback? Do a lot of bus driver quit after their first “year” (year used loosely) or before the end of term? Who typically becomes driver is it young people in college, older semi retirees, or who else?

Asked by You over 5 years ago

Subs are welcome to give feedback to regular drivers on their routes. Many times the kids will act out or act differently when there is a sub on the bus because they think they can get away with it. Generally not everyone is cut out to drive a school bus, so we do have people who will quit after a stressful moment. That being said drivers come from all walks of life and backgrounds.

Kids freak out over anything. For real they go crazy over a trash truck, or the sound of the brakes, or even someone walking their dog. What do you do. How can I drive with screaming and going insane over trivial things?

Asked by Robin almost 6 years ago

Honestly they're pretty chill. They don't freak out unless you do something dumb like slam on the brakes. They may get a little excited over something that's unusual but you have to realize they are kids. Most of the time if you chill out with them they will respect you.

What’s your Iq

Asked by Big Jim over 5 years ago

Probably more than yours is.

Why do parents show up in droves when a bus driver pulls over due to excessive noise? I have seen videos of it and it makes me mad because I bet the driver pulled over and told them to be quite and then they start getting louder. I mean the noise level in the buses I have seen. Do the parents expect the driver to drive with that kind of screaming like wild banshees? Seriously?! The parents make it worse because I assume the driver can’t just let kids off with random people for all the driver probably knows. Their kids aren’t dying and if they shut up for a few minutes I bet they would have been on their merry way. Just let the supervisor, principle, and/or police show up take care of it then maybe they will let your kids off too you or they will continue on home or school. I understand they may be scared if the district never contacts the parents and they are twenty minutes late but when they know what happened why do they do that? Even calling the cops saying their kids are held hostage and make it sound like the driver put a gun to their heads. Anyways what do you think and have you ever been in a situation like this?

Asked by DJ over 5 years ago

DJ, first off how the heck did you get around the character limit??? Secondly, we live in a society of "me first." If anyone, including children, feel they are being wronged by anyone, their first instinct is to scream discrimination. It's sad, but a reality. With free access to social media and giving our children free access to these items, we create a level of distrust in everyone. Adults that were once held in a position of authority are now being stripped of that authority in order to further our own agendas.

All it takes in a situation like you described is a kid to call a parent and falsely accuse someone of doing something that they are not. We are so quick to blame as a country and to point the fingers at someone else that we fail to see the actual source of the blame and take care of the initial problem. So while the initial problem may be unruly disrespectful children, it is blown out of proportion to make the persons in charge at fault for the initial behavior. This is a direct result of a "not me" society. We refuse to take responsibility for our actions and therefore the blame lies with someone other than ourselves when it should lie directly with ourselves. The perceived injustice to themselves is never their own fault.

People need to start taking responsibility for their actions. As far as being in that situation, I have had furious parents who decidedly cuss me out for something that I did not do. It's frustrating because you are put in an impossible situation.

Question have you ever had someone in your years of driving had someone you did not like.

Asked by Question maker almost 6 years ago

Yep.