School buses - a driver's view

摘要

I've had cm every week for more than 50 years and this is my first time I have written in. I had to put pen to paper on your piece regarding school buses (CM 4 September). I agree children are a priceless cargo, and the oldest buses do seem to be allocated to transport them around, but the following points need to be taken into consideration. Myself and my partner are coach drivers and have been involved in driving school buses. This is our experience of the state the buses/coaches are left in and some examples of their behaviour: 1. chewing gum trampled into carpets; 2. chewing gum stuck on seat belts; 3. chocolate smeared on seats; 4. food ground into seats and floor and any nook and cranny; 5. graffiti on windows and the backs of seats in marker pen and biro; 6. holes cut in the backs of seats; 7. a ball-bearing gun fired at the driver; 8. abuse to the drivers; 9. they won't wear seatbelts; 10. fighting and swearing on the bus.