For most school districts, school buses — and the keys to start them — are kept safe at a bus yard or other similar facility. But what happens when someone forgets to grab the keys?
A news article out of Salina, Kan., show us what can happen when the keys stay in the vehicle and are not secured elsewhere. The article described a “17-year-old mentally-handicapped boy” who was out walking when he came upon a school bus with the keys in the ignition. Within moments, the boy started the vehicle and was making his way (recklessly) through town. After crashing into and damaging two parked vehicles, the young man drove into the district’s football stadium’s concession stand.
Luckily, no one was hurt, including the young driver who decided to turn the school grounds into his own real-life version of “Grand Theft Auto.” But the damages are estimated to be in the six figures.
How do these mistakes happen in the first place? At the end of the day, are your district’s keys locked up for safe keeping or do they stay on the driver’s personal key chain? What about when drivers keep the buses parked outside their houses?
Chime in below with how your operation makes sure a bored teenager doesn’t find a way to turn your roads into a drag strip for one of your school buses.
