The Mountain Lion Messenger
Accident Raises Questions Over Driver QualificationsThursday, January 19, 2012 By Aubrey Shirley
A Clark County School District bus hit a 16-year-old girl on Friday Nov. 3. She was admitted to University Medical Center in critical condition. The girl was dragged through the intersection, where the school bus pinned the girl underneath its wheels. The CCSD bus failed to yield the right of way to this pedestrian that was crossing at the proper crosswalk. At the time of the accident, the 51-year-old driver was neither speeding nor under the influence of any illicit substances. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, careless driving is to blame for this accident. This incident raises suspicions about who drives SVHS students to and from school and what kind of training is required for bus drivers. "[Trained professionals] teach bus drivers how to inspect their bus, how to drive the bus, how to deal with students, to read maps and driving laws," said Mark Johnson, RBF Consulting for the CCSD Transportation Department. According to Advanced Technologies Academy’s (A-TECH) website, bus drivers must have a Class B license, background check, finger printing and strong employment history. "[Bus drivers] get their class B license by taking a written test adminstered at the DMV and a bus driver training course provided at CCSD," reported A-TECH’s website. "Every driver must participate in this class – even if they already have a class B license from previous employment." CCSD bus driver qualifications pass over to the bus driver’s time off the clock. Checks of driver licenses are conducted twice yearly to check for any speeding, D.U.I. or other tickets. For students to be as safe as possible while riding on the bus, Johnson recommends students follow the bus safety rules. "Students should remain seated and face forward," said Johnson. "Students should keep the noise level to minimize. [Students should] learn their route number and driver’s name." |