Daily during the school year, Alberta's school bus drivers are responsible for the safe transportation of over 300,000 young Albertans. School buses in Alberta travel more than 400,000 kilometres a day - that's about 10 times around the earth!

Not Superman, But Always Super Drivers

School bus drivers need to do more than stop the bus, open the door, and let the kids off. They are educators in the areas of safe loading and unloading of the bus, emergency evacuation procedures, safe seating and conduct of the passengers and more.

• Not only do school bus drivers have responsibility for their passengers, they have the responsibility for managing passenger behaviour. On a school bus, discipline problems can quickly become safety problems.
• Bus operators need many skills aside from driving expertise. They must be able to stay calm, recognize and act on possible problems early, be able to talk to students, parents and educators, and be prepared for all situations.
• Drivers also have to contend with motorists forgetting or disobeying the rules of the road regarding school bus safety practices. Through Project Traffic Watch, if a motorist fails to stop as required, bus drivers can report the offence to a local RCMP detachment. The bus driver completes a form that identifies the offender's licence plate number, a description of the vehicle and the details of the event. The RCMP will conduct an investigation and will follow up with the registered owner of the vehicle.

Trained for Safety

In order to become a school bus driver you must take extensive training. School bus drivers must have a Class 4 or a Class 2 licence. A Class 4 licence lets you operate a bus with no more than 24 passengers, while a Class 2 licence allows you to operate any bus.

Other requirements for driving a school bus may include:

• An air brake "Q" endorsement for buses equipped with air brakes.
• A School Bus Driver's Improvement Program ("S" endorsement), as part of your contract. This can be obtained through a licensed delivery agent.
• Undertaking pre-trip inspections of the bus and ensuring the bus is in safe operating conditions, and completing the day with another visual inspection.
• Making written notes of all problems and ensuring the necessary repairs are made.
• Obtaining a first-aid certificate as a condition of employment or contract.
• Additional training or specialized courses prescribed by your employer.

Also available online are these documents, available in PDF (Portable Document Format v 3.1 or later):

School Bus Driver's Checklist
School Bus Driver's Guide
Alberta's School Bus Operators
Flashing Red Means Stop
School Bus Daily Walk Around Checklist
Walk the Talk About School Bus Safety
School Bus Safety Resources
School Bus Safety Facts

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