Sorry, I need to vent!

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Recently, I started driving a school bus part-time, because my social security and pension just weren't keeping up with the inflation. I've had to call the police on a student, but that didn't leave me shaking and as rattled as my encounter today.

I was taking a bus load of about 40 middle school students home today when I crossed paths with what I believe was a person with a death wish! I was cruising at between 40 and 45 mph in a 50 mph zone. My bus has a GCWR of just under 15 short tons. I (fortunately) pay attention more to the road than the kids behind me, which provided dividends today!

Before I had a chance to have any kids get off, this fool in a 4 door sedan pulls out of a side street from a dead stop no more than 15 to 20 feet in front of the bus. (Yes, it may have been slightly farther away, but I doubt it.) My student passengers realized something was wrong when they heard me lay on the horn while the brakes were screaming and the bus started swerving as I tried to avoid an accident. Fortunately, I was able to keep the bus under control as I swerved behind the car and went slightly off the road.

It wasn't until a short while after the encounter that I started to shake with the realization that I probably would have killed the driver had I hit the car, and not only rolled the car, but also have driven over the car. I'm actually lucky that I didn't roll my bus and that no children were injured.

This was not a scenario that I had prepared myself for, and it is devastating.

I'm not looking for pats on the back. I just needed to verbalize what happened and what I'm feeling. It was an eye opener!
 
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It's unfortunate you have to work in a stressful job just to get by. I don't envy your position; there are just too many nuts out there on the road. I hope you can find something that supplements your retirement without the responsibility of a busload of kids in unfavorable driving conditions. Good work avoiding an accident. Stay safe.
 
I live in NJ, there have already been 2 arrests for fatal accidents caused by
people high on MJ, read of a teenage girl who did jail time for strking a pedestrian, won't be the last.
 
I know the feeling. Never drove a buss, but vans with kids on board. It weighs on you. Always "What if?"
 
The type vehicle of doesn't matter, near where I live a few years a driver hit a parked police SUV, took off. He was caught.
 
I was cruising at between 40 and 45 mph in a 50 mph zone. …….,, I (fortunately) pay attention more to the road than the kids behind me, which provided dividends today! ………. This was not a scenario that I had prepared myself for, and it is devastating. ………… It was an eye opener!

First - thank you for being a defensive driver! Paying attention while driving is seldom practiced today.

Second - don't second guess what might if happened. YOU prevented a catastrophic accident.

Third - A post adrenaline dump recovery (shaking, chills, leg weakness, and more) is a NORMAL BIOLOGICAL REACTION. You are in good health.

Your situational awareness and subsequent reactions are worthy of a medal.

Thank you for sharing. We ALL can learn from this.


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