EDITOR:
In response to Andrew Cross' letter, this is exactly what I've been talking about for years and I commend the driver for doing what he did in dropping the child on the lane side and backtracking on his route. As a former bus driver, I tried whenever possible to load or unload children on the closest side to their lane, even if it meant backtracking, although the board may not agree with this. Also, some drivers don't like turnarounds and will avoid them at all costs.
In the event of children having to cross the road, it was also my practice to not open the door until all traffic was stopped and to have the children stop and wait at the left front corner of the bus well before the center line. I also had them keep in eye contact with me and they were only to cross after looking both ways and after I nodded my head. They also knew the sound of my horn in case of emergency.
I agree that too many drivers are distracted and it's getting worse every day but it's also my opinion that there are almost as many procedures for bus driver's loading and unloading kids as there are drivers out there. It’s time the transportation department of both the English and French boards sent one of their people on each and every bus in order to standardize this procedure and have follow up meetings.
Bruce MacEwen,
Charlottetown
