A proposal by Senator Rick Olseen, DFL-Harris, and Representative Denise Dittrich, DFL-Champlin, would remove the requirement that bus drivers be licensed as school bus drivers.
"In an industry where driver inexperience is a major contributor to accidents the thought that lawmakers would allow more unlicensed drivers to transport our children is appalling," said Shane Allers, executive director of SEIU Local 284.
 |
| Buses weighing 14,500 pounds, such as the one pictured here, could be driven by unlicensed school bus drivers under legislation being proposed at the state Capitol. |
Some of these buses have all the features of full length buses including stop arms, emergency back door, and lights. Licensed School Bus Drivers are trained on how to use these components, how other vehicles may react around these buses, and how to manage children which are huge safety concerns.
"Is it too much to ask that all school bus drivers be licensed and trained?" the union asked. "Lawmakers should demand that anyone who transports our students on official school business be required to have the proper training and license to do so."
SEIU Local 284 represents 8,500 school workers throughout Minnesota and is the largest union of school bus drivers in the state. Local 284 works with school bus drivers, parents and school bus safety advocates around the state to improve school bus standards.
Share
A proposal by Senator Rick Olseen, DFL-Harris, and Representative Denise Dittrich, DFL-Champlin, would remove the requirement that bus drivers be licensed as school bus drivers.
"In an industry where driver inexperience is a major contributor to accidents the thought that lawmakers would allow more unlicensed drivers to transport our children is appalling," said Shane Allers, executive director of SEIU Local 284.
|
| Buses weighing 14,500 pounds, such as the one pictured here, could be driven by unlicensed school bus drivers under legislation being proposed at the state Capitol. |
Current state law allows drivers without a school bus endorsement to drive Type A buses for activity purposes but not to and from school. Rather than tightening that loophole, the legislation authored by Olseen and Dittrich would expand the "Type A" category to include larger buses up to 14, 500 pounds.
Some of these buses have all the features of full length buses including stop arms, emergency back door, and lights. Licensed School Bus Drivers are trained on how to use these components, how other vehicles may react around these buses, and how to manage children which are huge safety concerns.
"Is it too much to ask that all school bus drivers be licensed and trained?" the union asked. "Lawmakers should demand that anyone who transports our students on official school business be required to have the proper training and license to do so."
SEIU Local 284 represents 8,500 school workers throughout Minnesota and is the largest union of school bus drivers in the state. Local 284 works with school bus drivers, parents and school bus safety advocates around the state to improve school bus standards.