South Florida School Bus Driver Investigated for Falling Asleep While Driving
A school bus driver who drives middle school kids to and from school in South Florida is under investigation by the local school district for falling asleep at the wheel of the bus, according to an article on News4Jax.com.
Driving while fatigued is a very serious issue in the trucking industry that is responsible for numerous serious injury and fatal accidents throughout Florida and the United States. It is more prevalent among semi truck drivers as they are notoriously requested to drive long hours, often late at night and early in the morning with insufficient rest. However, it is also a problem among commercial bus drivers and school bus drivers who drive for long periods of time and/or drive late at night or early in the morning.
Studies have been conducted, and articles have been written, indicating that driving while fatigues is as dangerous as driving while drunk. As a result, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued regulations that limit the number of hours a semi truck or commercial bus driver can drive or be on-duty before he/she has to take a break. These regulations would not apply to a local school bus driver, but when the stakes are as high as they are when dozens of children are being driven to and from school, the hope is that the employers will thoroughly check the backgrounds and qualifications of the prospective drivers and remove anyone who is found driving in an unsafe condition.
