The Maximum Age allowed for persons serving in the US Military is 60.
The Maximum Age allowed for Pilots, according to FAA regulation is 65.
The Maximum Age allowed for Air Traffic Control Specialists is between 57 to 61.
Even Federal Park Rangers have an age limit of 57.
Why then, do we not have regulation in place for a Maximum Age limit of School Bus Drivers? Are our children less significant than the animals in our National Parks?
Yesterday, the Myrtle Beach Academy of Arts, Science and Technology, lost a bright young student to an accident involving a school bus. The driver of that school bus is 76 years old. Why did Horry County School district entrust the precious lives of our children to a 76 year old driver?
Many school districts have maximum age limit requirements for their school bus drivers. Some of them have been taken to court because of these requirements. Are we afraid of litigation so much that we are willing to put our children’s lives in danger?
47% of public school students ride a school bus to and from school every day. If we are recognizing the value of a particular maximum age for various jobs involving public safety, why are we leaving out the safety of 25 million children? I believe the Federal Government needs to enact a law addressing this issue. What are your views on this and what are you willing to do about it?
Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection Join The Optimist Group!
I am real sorry to hear about that unfortunate accident. I also would like to add that some of them need better training on how to communicate and treat 5 yr old children. My little boy came home very upset because of the way the bus driver talked to him. After calling the bus drivers supervisor he said she over reacted to a minor situation which caused this little boy to not want to go to school. He said it was a scare tactic... Please
I think anyone who can demostrate the ability to drive safely should be able to do so. Perhaps more frequent driver exams for older folks would be a good idea? Don't have enough info to make a judgement call on this specific accident. Also don't have enough data on school bus accidents involving older drivers to form an informed decision on this issue.
Mike: I found out this morning that the very same bus driver who killed Mark almost ran my daughter off the road on the freeway a few weeks ago. She told me about the incident then, but it became even more poignant today.
We really need to address this issue!
Thank you for sharing your story. You are right! We certainly need to invest more in all those associated with the safety and welfare of our children!
Kirsten: In doing research for this blog I only found one study on this issue effected in the early 70's. If we recognize the value of establishing maximum age requirements for so many public safety sectors (like pilots, air traffic controllers and even park rangers), why should school bus drivers not be regulated by the same principle? Why are our kids' lives less significant?
Mirela...I am very sorry to hear this story, I have an Aunt that drove a school bus in Florida until her mandatory retirement came up...she wasn't happy about the forced retirement and often thought it was without merit...this story may prove that it is reasonable to ask drivers to step away from the wheel.
Steve: After reading your comment I am seriously considering changing this blog's title.
Steve: There, I just changed it! Thank you for the inspiration!
Hi Mirela... I am not really sure how I feel about this. I think more frequent checks may be required, but I just am not sure that the issue is that this man was driving a school bus. Unless you take away his drivers license all together could he have not caused the same accident driving a car, a big pick-up or a van? I am all for putting public safety, especially for our children, at the forefront, but I just wonder if "age" alone is the proper metric in this case (or for that matter, the others you cited).
Mirela..I know some people who are older that drive better then younger people..It would be unfair to discriminate because of age..if the person is capable..perhaps a driving test could determine this..a young person could cause an accident as well as an older person..accidents are just that..accidents
Hannah: I wouldn't feel comfortable being in a plane flown by a 76 year old pilot. Would you?
Age is a sticky issue, I know. I'm not exactly spring chicken, if you know what I mean... However, certain public safety sectors should be tightly regulated by minimum and maximum age requirements, as well as training and testing. Our bodies are not what they used to be at an advanced age. Our peripheral vision, our motor skills and everything else are impacted. Not to mention the many drugs our aging population is on...
My dad, who is 69 drives our church bus. The insurance company will not insure him without annual physicals and a clean driving record. My dad is still a super safe driver. I see your point, but I think it's more about the individual and not the number. I know some "old" 50 year olds and some young 80 year olds.
I think that older drivers of any vehicle should go through mandatory behind-the-wheel testing to renew their drivers license every year. I'd really like to see it happen every 6 months, but I think that might be too hard. I remember seeing one poor older lady driving her car down the wrong way on a divided street once and she just looked so terrified, like she didn't know what was going on. I don't think it's an age thing necessarily. I know of people who are older who have all their faculties with them and some that are younger who don't. If they are in charge of driving people around, a behind-the-wheel test should be done for everyone, no matter what their age. You fail, you don't drive.
That is a tad on the older side BUT if everything "checks" out why couldn't he/she keep driving. Reading throught the comments some say mandatory testing. Now that i would definitely be all for.
This is a sad story and a horrible accident. I think mandatory testing is the key for drivers. Pick an age and have some sort of doctors test/check up. I have to get a physical every year to prove to the Boyscouts of america that I am fit enough to be a scout master. (once you hit 40 BSA has that requirement).
Here is what another North Myrtle Beach Student shared on Marc's Facebook page:
Plus, if I may say so I was riding the NMBHS (North Myrtle Beach High School) bus that was on the way to the academy. The bus driver kept taking his hands off the wheel and swerving in the lanes on 31. It scares me a lot to know that they let such people drive buses like that.
This is scary stuff...
Mirela, this is a sad story all the way around. I can't imagine being the parents of the young man. I also can't imagine the sorrow of the bus driver to know that his actions caused a death. My mom is 76 and her worst fear is to lose her drivers license. I can sympathize with this but I also can't see my mom driving a school bus full of loud and distracting children.
Hi, Mirela. I agree that 76 is too old for someone to be driving a bus full of kids, for all the reasons you cited above....poorer motor skills, poorer peripheral vision and Rx. I was horrified, when I lived in North Carolina in the late 70's, to learn that high school Juniors who were on the honor roll were allowed to drive the school busses. I didn't think they had sufficient experience or judgment at that age and the responsibility was too great. With so much unemployment now, surely there are competent drivers between the ages of, say, 25 and 60 who are available for this important job.
Here's what another mother said about it on a different board:
I was told by a friend that in NY, you have to be able to go up & down the bus steps 3 times in under 30 seconds, another one was that you have to be able to carry an 80lb. bag from the front of the bus to the rear exit, in a timely manner as well, along with several other tests.. I have no problem with the age if they can pass the requirements, however, how many 76 year olds do you know that could complete just those 2 tasks ?? The bus driver has to be able to help save the children on the bus, in case of an accident... That is a major issue of concern for a parent.
Mirela ~ I am also so sorry for this child and family. It amazes me about the drivers age. In Southern Maryland the school buses don't have seat belts for the children, but is mandated by any driver and passenger. What kind of sense is this?