Duty no different than a pilot’s
Re: “Driver who kicked student off bus gets apology,” June 3 What happens when an airplane passenger gets unruly, jeopardizing other passengers, the crew and even the flight itself? The captain diverts to the nearest airport, lands and has police meet the aircraft to physically remove the problem person.
Is a bus driver’s responsibility to his/her passengers any different? Drivers should be able to pull over where safe to stop, call the police to remove the troublemakers and, in the case of students, take them home to their parents.
Kids acting up on a bus are distracting to the point where it can become dangerous to continue driving.
Why did the driver feel the need to have his own video camera on the bus to record passenger activity? Is it because of numerous previous problems that the school board did nothing significant to remedy?
The driver was badgered by this boy’s parents to bring his hockey bag on the bus even though it is against bus company policy. It’s also the law: The School Bus Operation Requirements under the Traffic Safety Act indicate material brought on board must be secured so it cannot come loose in an accident, nor can it block aisles or exits. This boy’s parents were trying to force the driver to break safety laws.
The boy struck the driver on the side of the head with his bag, which means he ought to be charged with assault. We also have laws about distracted driving, and this child and a second boy were definitely distracting him.
At the very least, these troublemakers should not be allowed to ride the bus for the rest of the school year. It’s high time school boards and bus companies started being firmer in dealing with passenger/ parent problems. If they don’t, it will be more difficult to recruit and retain school bus drivers.
Earl Legate, Edmonton