COLUMBUS -- School-bus drivers were honored on School-Bus Driver Appreciation Day, May 5.
"Safely transporting students to and from school is vital to education," said Susan Tave Zelman, superintendent of public instruction. "The professionalism of Ohio's 20,000 school-bus drivers is why the school bus remains, by far, the safest way for students to get to school."
Ohio school-bus drivers transport more than 1.2 million students more than 170 million miles each year. At the same time, the school-bus safety record is unsurpassed, greatly exceeding that of automobiles, airliners, and even passenger trains.
To qualify to become a school-bus driver in Ohio, an applicant must complete preservice training and certified on-bus training, pass a driving evaluation and obtain a commercial drivers license. In addition, drivers must pass pre-employment background and drug screenings. Drivers are required to be recertified every six year.
The Ohio legislature designated the first Monday in May as School-Bus Driver Appreciation Day to "increase public recognition of the important function that school bus drivers serve in safely transporting children to and from school."