School Buses Breaking the Rules

Atlanta, GA
Every day, Georgia school buses transport more than a million students; with two of the largest fleets in the country operating right here in the Atlanta area. So we wondered, "How safe are your children when they step on a school bus?"

We conducted Open Records searches to get a handle on driver safety. We discovered that school bus drivers, like the rest of us, are not immune to getting tickets.

We requested red light camera tickets and moving violations for bus drivers in five school districts in the Atlanta area, including Gwinnett, Cobb, DeKalb and Fulton Counties as well as Atlanta Public Schools.

We found examples of buses running red lights and obtained the video to go along with some of those violations.  We also discovered other serious infractions, including a hit and run involving a Dekalb School bus, Atlanta school buses involved in accidents and buses in Cobb and DeKalb Counties cited for speeding, some in school zones.

Safe Havens, International

New Drivers a Factor in Increased Manatee School Bus Accidents

Manatee, FL
Just two months into the academic calendar, Manatee County school buses have been involved in 11 accidents -- already half of the previous school year's total numbers, according to transportation officials.

Drivers have been at fault in five cases this year.

Twenty-three accidents were reported in all of 2011-12, and five bus drivers were charged. In 2010-11, two school employees were cited in 22 accidents.

Sheryl Riker, director of transportation for Manatee schools, has not had a chance to analyze all contributing factors, but said new drivers may explain the increase.

Safe Havens, International