More than a-million children ride the bus to school in California every day. The state is once again helping to observe National School Bus Safety Week to help the public recognize that it’s the safest way for kids to get to class. Paula Davison is general manager of Durham School Services, which provides bus transportation for all schools in Nevada County. She says drivers could do better in stopping for the flashing red lights and stop arm. She admits there has been some confusion regarding a recent change in the law that now requires traffic to stop in both directions, even when students are not scheduled to cross the road. But she says it improves safety…

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Davison also says seat belts are now standard with the newer busses, but says students are well-protected on busses that are still without them…

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As for the drivers, Davison says there are an array of tests, including job and criminal background checks, fingerprinting, and thorough interviews to make sure a candidate is appropriate for what is a very difficult job. Drivers also receive 20 hours of behind-the-wheel training, as well as a minimum of 20 hours of classroom work.