The Importance of School Bus Safety Procedures and Regulations
Northstar Bus Lines and American Student Transportation have had a busy summer recruiting and training new School Bus Drivers all around Minneapolis. We have done over 30 Road Tests at Northstar alone, and we have our Trainers to thank for that. They spent several hours making sure new drivers were properly trained and met all certifications required to drive a school bus. With that being said we want to remind drivers the importance of following all school bus safety procedures and regulations, as well as being vigilant on the road.
This past school year there was an incident that could have easily been avoided. A 6 year old was run over by a school bus. Thankfully, this was not related to our terminals, but still it was too close to home. Although the driver was not one of ours; we can still take it as a lesson to learn.
On January 25, 2023 a 6-year-old boy got off of the school bus on the 8700 block of Edinbrook Crossing North in Brooklyn Park. The boy’s jacket got stuck on a light while he was exiting. The driver reversed the bus and ran the child over. According to witnesses the driver didn't notice due to the yelling of other students on the bus and left the scene.
Charges have been filed against the driver who was unaware the bus had struck the child. The charges state that the driver had failed to complete several required training courses and “should not have been able to drive the school bus with these shortcomings. Furthermore, putting a school bus in reverse after dropping a student is against the law.” The child suffered multiple pelvic fractures, a traumatic brain injury along with other injuries. The driver faces up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine, and will probably never drive a school bus again.
Our hearts and prayers are with the child injured in this incident, and hopes of a speedy recovery. Our trainers work hard to make sure driver’s are educated and prepared to be on the road. Please keep in mind what you learn during training when you are out there on your own. Never rush and always be vigilant of your surroundings.