School Bus Safety - Driver Training and Safety Precautions

Defensive Driving

All Wake County school bus drivers are required to attend a defensive driving workshop every other year, or as part of our post-certification training following an at fault accident.

Drug & Alcohol Testing

All bus drivers are drug tested prior to employment and are subject to random drug and alcohol testing. They may be subject to post-accident testing or upon reasonable suspicion.

Post Certification Training

School bus drivers may be required to have post certification road training following an at fault accident.

Screening Procedures

All prospective bus drivers are screened based on the following requirements:

Must be 18 years old.
Must possess a valid NC driver’s license.
Must have had a valid driver’s license for a minimum of 2 years.
With 2-4 years total driving experience: no more than one ticket or at-fault accident during that period.
With 5-9 years driving experience: no more that two tickets or two at-fault accident during that period.
With 10 or more years experience: no more that two tickets and one at-fault accident or two at-fault accidents and one ticket during that time period.
No convictions of DWI in the last 10 years.
No convictions of reckless driving.
No suspension of driving privileges in the last 10 years due to a moving violation (a suspension for failure to appear does not count).
Any prospective driver who has had a license in another state within the last five years must provide a driving record from that state as well as possess a valid NC driver’s license.
Take class and pass examinations administered by DMV and receive CDL with "S" restriction..

First Aid Situations

Wake County bus drivers receive basic training in first aid and are required to carry a first aid kit on their buses while they are operating. In a first aid situation, drivers will phone any emergency personnel (if needed), the bus garage, and their transportation operations manager.

Drivers' Awareness Record (Medical/Physical)

Form 3710 is available to be used to complete pertinent medical and/or physical information helpful to the driver. The information required can be completed by a classroom teacher or a parent and should be done only for those students with special medical or physical needs. The form must be readily accessible in the bus or contract vehicle should there be an emergency and should not be removed from the vehicle. Identified students who transfer to another bus or school should have their form sent to the receiving driver or school.

Medical Information

There are special medical circumstance related to some students who ride school buses or contract vehicles. It is imperative that the bus driver or contract driver have medical information only for those students with special medical and/or physical needs; i.e., seizures, allergies, injuries, etc., to be able to effectively manage or react to medical emergencies.