Driving through Lakewood today, I witnessed something I have seen far too often – a school bus full of children was moving down the road, and at the back, several kids were standing in the aisle, pressing their faces against the rear window.
Anyone who has ever driven in Lakewood knows just how hazardous our roads are. Accidents happen every single day—many of them severe, some of them fatal. Reckless driving is rampant, though with the state of our roads, it’s hard to even blame people for the chaos. And school buses are not immune to this reality. Buses have been involved in numerous accidents over the years, yet somehow, the danger of having children standing unsecured inside these vehicles is something people continue to overlook.
The thought of what could happen in a sudden stop, sharp swerve, or crash is horrifying. A child standing in the aisle could be thrown across the bus, slammed against the windshield, or hurled into the seats and floors. A child pressed against the back window could be ejected onto the pavement. These aren’t exaggerations. These are real, life-threatening risks, yet somehow, we act as if it’s just “kids being kids.”
But kids don’t know better. That’s the point. They have no concept of the real danger they are in. They don’t understand that a single second of reckless movement could have devastating consequences. And that’s where adults need to step in. But right now, we are failing them.
How is there no system in place to prevent this? How do bus drivers allow this to happen under their watch? How do schools not implement basic safety measures? Schools are responsible for these children from the moment they step onto the bus until they arrive safely at home, yet there seems to be zero enforcement of even the most basic rules of bus safety. There are no monitors, no oversight, and no accountability.
For years, schools have ignored the need for bus monitors—adults who could enforce safety, ensure children remain seated, and stop dangerous behavior before it turns into tragedy. It’s a simple solution, yet one that has been completely dismissed. Other cities and school districts around the country have monitors on their buses as standard practice. Why don’t we?
If it’s a question of cost, let’s be honest: schools raise money for everything. If safety was treated as a priority – and how could keeping kids safe not be the top priority? – a solution would have been found already. And if full-time monitors are deemed too expensive, then appointing responsible parent volunteers would be a simple and effective compromise.
Bus drivers must also take responsibility. No one is saying that driving a school bus in Lakewood is easy—it’s an incredibly difficult and demanding job. But that does not absolve drivers of their responsibility to ensure that children are following safety rules. Their job is not just to drive; it’s to protect every child on board.
And yet, many of them do not even glance in the mirror to check if children are seated. They see kids standing, moving around, or leaning against the back windows, and they say nothing. This is unacceptable. If a driver refuses to enforce the most basic safety rules, then they should not be behind the wheel of a school bus.
It is only a matter of time before tragedy strikes. That is the sad reality. It shouldn’t take a horrific accident, a serious injury, or worse, for us to finally wake up and demand change. But that is how things tend to work—we ignore a problem until we are forced to confront it in the worst possible way. When a child is seriously hurt because they weren’t sitting safely, then the outrage will come. Then schools will rush to install rules. Then parents will demand bus monitors. But for that child, it will be too late.
Sincerely,
A Worried Lakewood Resident
The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Lakewood Alerts. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.
Chill out karen kids will be kids and nothing is going to happen
A word of caution-As a teacher of mine would say, “It’s all fun and games until something dangerous happens.”
Chill? I think you mean wait for a serious injury! Yes kids will be kids, but that doesn’t mean you should allow your children to do dangerous things! What would you do if your child ran into the street? Played with fire? Climbed on the roof? You would punish them because it’s dangerous, just like running or jumping or climbing in a moving vehicle!
So you criticize the kids who are immature and don’t know better, yet the adults using phones while driving etc are innocent?
Not innocent, but also immature
No. The bus drivers have to navigate Lakewoods insane roads. It’s a job that requires their FULL attention. As mentioned, we need to have monitors on the bus.
What a joke, as a bus driver I want to ask this so called worried parent to come one day On a Bus and afterwards we will talk but first she/he should take their 5 year old and tell them to sit on one chair at home for 1 hour let me know how it goes…
A bus is safer than you think, I had once a car slammed into my bus from the back, I didn’t even feel a drop, people literally had to tell me to stop.
There is no such a thing as kids sitting for an hour In a Seat, a driver could scream hundred times, nothing helps, you cannot look in the mirror every second since you’ll for sure make a accident, maybe they want that a driver should stand up every 3 minutes and scream on the kids, literally traumatizing the kids and make the route 30 minutes longer.
A shout-out to the principal who comes up on my bus almost every day and demands everyone to sit and the second he steps out of the bus all the kids are standing, lol… Keep on doing it…
Maybe if there would be a monitor it will be a bit better for little kids only, but this won’t happen in Lakewood since every bus drives for 5 schools you start the route in lakewood and finish in Jackson, the next route starts in Jackson…
The Heimishe schools have a bus monitor for the little children and it’s much better.
Maybe you just are a non authoritative weak fellow.
When I went on the bust in elementary school there were drivers who had us sitting the entire ride…
Maybe it is you who is the problem.
Little meek fellow.
I agree with everything you said. However it’s not just busses. I pass several cars a day with kids jumping around in the back
That is so to parents not teaching their kids safety. When I was growing up, there was no such thing as standing in the car because we were taught better. We learned by example. These days, parents don’t pay attention to what they’re kids are doing in the car because they aren’t paying attention, either that or they think their kids should learn the hard way.
Agreed
My kids bus driver is very difficult and screams at all the kids and has created a real toxic atmosphere on the bus, 10 parents called the bus company and got nowhere. We are now driving carpool …
my first grader doesnt get a seat because the big boys push him out. so I drive him to school and due to traffic hes usually late. we need bus monitors!!! The way home he gets a seat and he sits the whole time
I would suggest that the driver tell the kids that he is not moving the bus until everyone is sitting. If anyone gets up the driver will stop the bus. If they want to get home they need to obeyed. There is nothing else that helps. I’ve said this for years. Still the same story. They hang out of rhe windows.
Also, upon dropping off the kids, the driver should turn the bus to cover the width of the street so that cars can’t rush by.
Good night to all !
Stopping the bus on a diagonal across lanes to load or unload students is illegal!
If you have all the answers then why aren’t YOU behind the wheel of a school bus trying to change things for the better. As usual “Back seat driver” who knows it all.