The time has come for school bus drivers to let go of their personal privacy. This they have to do so that the safety of their passengers will be guaranteed. They have to reveal any mental and physical health issues prior to their employment. They also have to agree to undergo random drug testing and to list the medications they are on. These recommendations were written by Judge Bruce Fraser in the fatality inquiry report on the death of Kathelynn Occena in 2007.
The nine-year-old girl was killed and three others were hurt including her sister in a school bus accident on October 18, 2007. The vehicle driven by Louise Rogers swung over into a parked gravel truck then crashed into a power pole. All the four victims are studying at the Mountain View Academy, but were riding on the bus owned by the Third Academy at that time.
In his report, John Fraser also wrote that there was no hint that the driver did it on purpose. It cannot be explained why the bus driver drifted onto the shoulder. Later investigations revealed that Ms. Rogers had recently been hospitalized for mental health problems. She was then prescribed sleeping pills and antidepressants.
Fraser’s report also included the assessment of the design of the school bus that was involved in the accident. He wrote that the bus was designed such that the passenger section extends beyond the cab or engine section. This endangers passengers because they are exposed outside the “safe” area of the bus. This design flaw is often found in smaller buses and which has to be given consideration.
The recommendations presented by the judge received positive responses. In additon, he also wrote that bus drivers who went on leave due to mental or physical issues should be required to submit a report. This has to be issued by a health professional, stating therein whether the person is fit to resume work. This is one way of ensuring that drivers are physically and mentally prepared for the job.
There are proposals that urge bus drivers not to use hand-held devices. This includes, but not limited to, cellphones and musical devices while on duty, especially while driving. These devices affect the focus and concentration of drivers. A new legislation is being drafted banning all hand-held devices behind the wheel.
The lesson from this incident is that all schools should set stricter standards in the hiring of school bus drivers. There should be a pre-employment preparation that assesses the mental health of would-be drivers. It is very vital to determine whether these issues will affect their driving skills. At the end of all these, a little less of privacy would guarantee the safety of children.
Image courtesy of:
No comments:
Post a Comment