Is there anything scarier than hearing a bus driver was arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) while on the job? I am sure there are. Still, it is quite frightening to think of the pilots of those mega-ton vehicles driving around in a drunken state!
In San Clemente, California, a bus driver was arrested in December on suspicion of driving his route while under the influence. As reported in www.ocregister.com.
The culprit was 41-year-old Kerri Harper. No one on the bus was injured.
The driver was a "coach operator" for MV Transportation, with which OCTA contracts to run some routes. MV Transportation drivers are required to follow the same guidelines as OCTA-employed drivers, which means they come under a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy.
Of course this will mean an intensive meeting among company personnel to ensure they adhere to all safety protocol. Perhaps they may mandate an alcohol awareness class.
So far the big management decision has been to increase the amount of random testing of its employees to 20 percent from 10 percent annually. I think they definitely should mandate an 8-hour online alcohol class.
There is no substitute for safety. The more education and training bus drivers have the better.