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.

SubscribeGet emails when new questions are answered. Ask Me Anything!Show Bio +

Share:

Ask me anything!

Submit Your Question

1007 Questions

Share:

Last Answer on February 07, 2021

Best Rated

What happens if a Kindergartner needs the bathroom while on the bus? Do you make a stop?

Asked by CT Mom over 6 years ago

That depends on the distance to the home. If the child is still 45 minutes from getting home, we will often make a decision to let them use the restroom at a school approved location (ie another school or the board office or the bus barn) Little kids are not as able to hold their bladders like older kids are.

You have been being irritating and flat out rude to us lately! Because you think a question is stupid you give a mean spirited , smart ass, poor, or just plan rude answer. Listen your a bus driver and we are not. You have 12 years of experience I am sorry we don’t know what you do. That’s why you created this right? For people to gain knowledge and create transparency. There are people on here who where in no way rude to you and you have gone off on them. You have told people that they speak bad English, accused someone of trying to make you say something, and trying to make people look dumb for asking questions because they wanted a answer. Some people where rude but not everyone. So why are you giving rude answers or flat out removing them!? Again we ask questions because we are not bus drivers so don’t think we know what you know. Also what would even be the point of trying to bait you into saying something like you accused Samantha of a few months ago?

Asked by Angry viewer over 6 years ago

Hello dear angry viewer. I'm sorry if I have pushed some buttons that caused you to get a little upset. If you take the time to read through the 400+ questions that have been asked and answered I often get repeat questions. Some have been removed because they were duplicates of other questions, and still others were removed because someone opted to spam my q&a like a juvenile person. Sometimes a person asks a question that makes no sense whatsoever so i do invite them to share details and get a more detailed answer.

My snarky demeanor is just part of who I am. Take it or leave it.

Why in Missouri do they require buses to have two stop arms?

Asked by Pj over 6 years ago

Visibility. Most older buses will have one stop sign and one crossing gate. Newer buses will have 2 stop signs and 1 crossing gate. In some states they are even piloting a program where they are extending the stop arm out about 5 feet into the opposing lane to make it even more visible and make sure drivers know to STOP!!! The biggest issue we have as drivers is the sheer number of people who ignore our flashing lights and stop signs even though they had plenty of warning to stop. It's an epidemic and I fear the day my bus kids are going to get hurt over it.

Why when there is winter weather or some other event why are some things canceled and others arent

Asked by Ooooooooooooooohhh over 6 years ago

Some things are outdoors events so they are affected by the weather. Other times road conditions may be dangerous for travel. Each school system takes these things into consideration before cancelling activities.

When you request subs do you do it online or the old fashion way? Do you have a program like ASOP or something like that you just put your going to be gone on so and so and then subs get a text.

Asked by Don’Marie over 6 years ago

Again that varies district by district. Some districts have a sub list, others have an automated system and still others will have the traditional call in and have your supervisor find somebody to run your route.

Why can Middle Schoolers not sit behind a certain point and High Schoolers can’t sit in front of a certain point but Jr. High can sit where ever they please?

Asked by Joe about 6 years ago

Its bus drivers choice really. Ask your driver?

Do buses ever have outside temperature on the dash or where ever else like many cars do?

Asked by Gentlemen about 6 years ago

Mine does not, though i am not sure about the newest buses we have.