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School Bus Safety: Driving Impaired
Posted Wednesday, November 19, 2008 ; 06:00 PM | View Comments | Post Comment
Updated Wednesday, November 19, 2008; 08:29 PM


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Day after day parents send their children off to school on the school bus never anticipating any problems on the road. But what if the problem isn't on the road, it's behind the wheel.

By Kate Krivanek


On February 5th, 2008, 62-year-old Clyde Watson, Jr., crashed his Monroe County school bus down a 120-foot ravine, with 11 children on-board.

Luckily none of them were injured.

What makes this accident stand out is Watson was under the influence. He later plead guilty to misdemeanor charges.

"If You're going to drink and drive, would you do that with your child." said Sandra Garringer, bus driver.

Sandra Garringer says she has no tolerance for anyone who would even consider getting behind the wheel after drinking--especially bus drivers. "We're putting our childrens lives in their hands every day. It's child abuse. It's child neglect." said Sandra Garringer, bus driver.

State Transportation Director, Ben Shew, says all bus drivers are subject to a variety of rigorous tests to prove they're capable of transporting children safely.

"Everyone has to have a drug test. They also have to do a background check to see if there's any information during their criminal history. And they also do a DMV background check as well." said Ben Shew, State Transportation Director.

Throughout the school year, bus drivers face random sobriety testing.

"They know that they're subject to that random sampling at any time." said David Seay, Fayette County Transportation Director.

"Our supervisor has that he can randomly call us for alcohol tests. I mean, when I get off this bus he could pick up the phone and say I want you over here to test you." said Ray Meadows, bus driver.

Fayette County Transportation Director David Seay says failure to comply means the end of that drivers bus route.

"If a driver refused a random sampling, he would be immediately fired." said David Seay, Fayette County Transportation Director. Bus drivers are hold responsible for their actions, both on and off the bus.

"Our policy states that if someone is caught in their personal car, as well, with a DUI or whatever, it doesn't matter if they're in a school bus or in a personal car, they still lose their license." said Ben Shew, State Transportation Director.

Transportation directors assure parents, if they feel their child is at risk at any time, they can report the driver.

"Sometimes we get people that call and say, I think my driver, my child's driver smelled of alcohol. We immediately have them to go to Plateau Medical Center and take a drug test and take a breathalizer with the police department." said David Seay, Fayette County Transportation Director.

Shew says last years accident in Monroe County was an isolated incident County.

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