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jm_msma
New Member
1 Posts |
 Posted - 01/03/2003 : 4:59:47 PM
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We have recently heard of school bus drivers who bring their babies/toddlers on their runs...strapping them into carseats, but NOT belted into a seat. Have any of you run into this, and how did you handle it? Drivers responses have been that if they can't bring their kids, then they can't drive...and drivers are few and far between in this neck of the woods.
Thanks in advance for your response. |
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littlebit
Advanced Member
431 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2003 : 8:08:43 PM
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In my area, young children are not allowed on the bus for any reason! Insurance would not cover them if we are in an accident, because they are not students of our school district. Believe me it would have been a lot cheaper for me to put my son on the bus with me than to pay daycare. But if I wanted to drive I had to do it.
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John Farr
Top Member
USA
642 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2003 : 08:38:25 AM
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We do not permit friends, relatives or any others on the buses. One reason is safety. The driver must focus 100% of their attention on the task of driving. A second reason is our desire to project an image of professionalism.
FYI - most insurance policies offer blanket coverage, which covers all occupants. The underwriters generally do not consider whether or not a carrier restricts ridership. They generally only look at insurance coverage for the worst possible accident scenario.
Inability to attract drivers should not cause an employer to compromise safety.
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KMM
Advanced Member
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 01/04/2003 : 11:54:25 AM
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Our district will allow children of the driver, provided they are an enrolled student in the district, to ride with their parents on trips or routes. Any other passengers are strictly prohibited.
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Busmatt
Active Member
USA
34 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2003 : 09:34:11 AM
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School age children are okay to ride the bus with parent drivers. Younger ones are strictly not allowed, again because of insurance.
I have even baby sat for little ones in my office when there was an emergency rather than ever put them on the bus!
Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if neccesary. |
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80-RE4
Top Member
USA
5700 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2003 : 10:03:24 AM
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Wow!
Hear at my terminal, people with young children who aren't in school yet are allowed to bring them to work with them, and they ride in the front seat, and if need be, they have a car seat, properly secured by a lap belt. It is even advertised in the newspaper, when they print an ad for employment, they advertise "bring your child with you".
It works out great for our drivers and it is an extra benefit, if you'd call it that. I thought ALL companies allowed this, I am shocked! We can even bring one person with us on a charter. One guy always brings his wife whenever he does a charter. We must have that type of insurance that covers everyone on board.
Happy 2003
My 1996 Amtran RE kicks but ;-) |
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80-RE4
Top Member
USA
5700 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2003 : 10:04:01 AM
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Ooops, in my last post I put Hear, instead of here!
Happy 2003
My 1996 Amtran RE kicks but ;-) |
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Silas J.
Top Member
USA
938 Posts |
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thomasboy
Active Member
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2003 : 6:55:43 PM
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I can remember riding the school bus with my father as a little boy (before I was enrolled in school), 25+ years ago, and I don't think anyone ever complained.
When my wife was pregnant for our first child is when she decided to start driving a bus. I had to install seatbealts in our buses to accommodate a car seat. That wasn't a problem since we own the buses. I don't think anyone has complained. Other drivers have done this in the past as well. I even installed a seatbelt into a third bus of ours to accommodate a hired driver who might have to bring her grandson on the bus every now and then. I don't see it as a big issue, but I will double check on the insurance part as well.
At our school district we have both school owned equipment and private owned equipment. I heard that one of the school's drivers wanted to bring a baby onto the bus and the school (maybe just the mechanic not for certain??) refused to install a seatbelt for the car seat.
quote:
Hear at my terminal, people with young children who aren't in school yet are allowed to bring them to work with them, and they ride in the front seat, and if need be, they have a car seat, properly secured by a lap belt. It is even advertised in the newspaper, when they print an ad for employment, they advertise "bring your child with you".
It works out great for our drivers and it is an extra benefit, if you'd call it that.
That's what I would call it.
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gonzosbus
Senior Member
USA
142 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2003 : 3:35:06 PM
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I had no problem with my staff bringing their children with them. It was actually a "perk" of the job. Daycare around here would pretty much eat up a drivers salary. We have had babies in car seats thru adults ride our buses with no problems. Insurance is no problem because everyone is covered no matter what in the event of an accident.
Our School District is even building a day care center for District Employees next to our office that everyone here will be able to utilize. Anyway thats what our district does.
Armando Cuellar, Madison Elementary School District #38, Phoenix Arizona.
Safety First |
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UncleNeal
Senior Member
USA
153 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2003 : 07:59:29 AM
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Unless the passenger is a student in our District, we do not transport. No exceptions. This is for liability reasons, as well as bus capacity reasons.
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ontheroof
New Member
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 01/21/2003 : 09:36:17 AM
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This has been a practice for some time. I have been with private companies that allowed this to happen and used it as a drawing card to get more people interested in the profession. It really was not a problem, but I did not agree with the practice. The driver should be totally responsible for the students that they are transporting. The driver's child might distract from this responsibility. I also feel driving a school bus is a profession. How many profession do you know that allows the employee to bring their children to work? While day care and sitters are expensive it is something all working parents need to arrange. The school transportation industry should be extremely carefully about allowing friends and family to be present during regular hours. The parents of the students being transported have ever right to make sure that their student is not taking a back seat to the driver's child. On the subject of strapping in the car seats. If a driver does not strap the car seat in properly for their own child what are they doing for the students that are entrusted to their care? I would have concerns about the safety being provided. Looks to me that you have more of a concern on that end. A driver who says "They can't work unless they can bring their kids" is using this as a scare tactic. What was the policy when they were hired? Did they accept the position with the understanding that they could or could not bring their children? And, finally how many children are they allowed to bring? Transportation costs are high now. How much more is being paid for insurance to allow this practice to continue? If this fact help get or keep drivers...Do you really think there would be a shortage of capable people applying for the position?
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Transportation of non-students (family)
