Surely the fact that the bus driver can't control him warrants the fact that there should be an aide? What about your son's school, would they perhaps consider putting someone on the bus to watch him? Or is there an older kid who goes on the same route who you could perhaps pay to handle him?
If so are you happy with this mode of transport, what issues do you have, how far do they have to travel, etc.? What do you do to ease your fears?
My 6yo has to take a bus to his remedial school 22km away. It's the only school that he can go to, and I don't have a car so there is really no other way for him to get there. I have faith in the driver and they have an assistant on the bus and the bus is in good condition. I'm also not worried about my son misbehaving, he is inattentive but for the most part good. I stress everyday about the journey there and back and actually pray about it daily. Drivers on our roads are dreadful.
Today he came home and said "a green car scratched the bus". The bus was a few minutes late and I HAD been wondering where they were. I think I'll have a little conference with the bus driver but this has done naught to ease my fears.
My DD rides the bus home from school, we live about 3 miles from the school so she is on the bus for about 30 minutes. We have , in the past had a few fender benders while she was on the bus, but nothing major.
In my state(TX) school bus drivers are extensively trained and take state mandated drug tests, so I don't worry at all. I used to drive a school bus when my oldest was younger, and i know them all well, so that does ease my fears.
It is possible it was a minor collision, and probably not the bus drivers fault. I cannot count the times I have heard" but I didn't see it", and my reply has always been "HOW did you not see it, it is 40 feet long, 8 feet wide and BRIGHT YELLOW!"
I do know they all have public drivers permits and are screened extensively, they have to be as its special needs kids, some of whom are much more disabled than my son is and I'm sure it's not the driver's fault, my son said the car drove into the side of the bus, but still that's the whole thing, it's a BUS, not to mention clearly marked SCHOOL BUS .... !!! But don't let me get started on the way people drive. My son takes the bus to school as we live a short way out of town on a highway. It's not a terribly busy highway, yet three separate idiots managed to rear-end the bus last year. Let's see...big yellow bus...flashing lights...stop sign extended...same place every morning at the same time...WHO ARE THESE IDIOTS??? I know the driver on my son's route, and I see every morning that he does all of the things he's supposed to do. It's shocking how mind-numb people get when behind the wheel. Sorry I've said nothing to make you feel better, but I certainly understand your fears. BPQW39359.2849074074No, you have, I kind of wanted to know I'm not alone in this either! Thanks for listening to the vent!My 6y/o rides the bus home as well and while there have been some issues, it has worked out for the most part. The issues primarily revolve around the bus driver being one of the unfriendlinest people we have ever met. Her bossiness and 0 tolerance does not mesh well with our son who has a fairly short temper if he feels he is being singled out. Having ADHD to the degree that he has makes it nearly impossible for him to sit still and basically not talk (yep..that’s right) the entire ride home.