School bus drivers need to slow down, reader says

All too frequently when we see, either on TV or in the newspapers, pictures of accidents involving one or more motor vehicles, one of the vehicles is colored yellow. It's not that often, but often enough to enter it into one's mind. Could it be the color?

How about this? We are operating in our own vehicle in a sensible manner, observing the speed limit, and, when looking in our rear view mirror, we notice that another big yellow motor vehicle is right on our rear bumper. How many times have we witnessed this?

I no longer work, and being retired, I do not have to rush to where it is that I'm going. Why is it that these big yellow vehicles keep trying to make me exceed the posted speed limit?

As you have figured, these yellow motor vehicles are none other than school buses carrying the future of our nation to their appointed educational facilities, schools. It's bad enough that our kids are unsafe in school, no less having to get there via a precarious or insecure vehicle/driver.

For 27 years I drove an emergency vehicle - a fire department vehicle. From the first day that I was on the job, we were told that we did not have the right of way when proceeding to an alarm. Our displaying of emergency lights and that of our bell and siren was a way to notify motorists and pedestrians that we were responding, but we were not the "king of the road." Safety was of utmost importance and getting there was vital - but not at the expense of injuring someone. We traveled at no more than 35 mph.

Buses pass me if I'm doing that speed, loaded with their precious cargo - our children. When will it end? When will our kids be safe again in a "yellow truck," a vehicle that is not required to have seat belts for its occupants. I guess the police slogan, "click it or ticket" is just a play on words.

A yellow school bus was just viewed on national TV in Alabama with three children dead, and this was just one of three accidents this past week. I question, was the driver in control at all times ... observing the speed limit?

Arthur Sholty

Brick