Two years after a devastating school bus rollover in West Virginia led to a child’s leg amputation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is advocating for all new school buses to be fitted with alcohol detection systems to combat the growing issue of impaired driving among school bus operators.
The tragic incident, which injured multiple children, was attributed to a drunk driver, prompting the NTSB to investigate the prevalence of similar cases. Their findings revealed that driving under the influence is a considerable risk that affects children, who should be considered the 'most precious passengers' during school commutes, as highlighted by safety advocates.
During a recent announcement, Kris Poland, deputy director of NTSB's Office of Highway Safety, emphasized the heightened responsibility of school bus drivers, stating, “We expect these drivers to be attentive and unimpaired.”
The recommendation calls for the implementation of alcohol detection technology that would disable the bus if the driver is found to be under the influence. While the NTSB has not yet disclosed who would fund these installations or their overall costs, there is a shared hope for increased safety protocols.
It is important to note that there haven't been systematic tracking systems for school bus DUIs compared to other commercial drivers, making the issue harder to gauge accurately. In recent years, reports indicated that at least 118 school bus drivers were accused of driving while drunk over five years.
In an effort to curb such incidences, advocates are pushing for legislation to make these technologies standard. Meanwhile, safety experts argue that the potential benefits of reducing impaired driving incidents justify the investment in these detection systems. “Safety benefits far outweigh any inconvenience for drivers,” asserted attorney Todd Spodek. “Those in control must be held to higher scrutiny.”
Currently, school buses are generally deemed safe modes of transportation. In the past decade, the vast majority of fatalities involving school buses occurred among other vehicles. However, as discussions on school bus safety evolve, the NTSB continues to stress the need for protective measures such as seat belts and effective driver monitoring technologies.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety conclude that ensuring children's safety on the road should remain a top priority and that lawmakers will be pressured to consider these recommendations seriously to avoid any further tragedies.
