Ohio bus drivers face "life or death" decisions at advanced training

KETTERING (WRGT) - An object lands in the road, and a school bus driver is forced to make a life or death maneuver with your kids on board. It's hard to prepare for these situations, but drivers from across Ohio are preparing at Kettering Fairmont High School.

The Department of Education said it's the largest driver turnout in the 38-year history of the Advanced Drivers Course.

"If something falls off of a truck, it teaches them what their bus is going to do if they need to go left or right very sharply," said Kettering Transportation Supervisor Todd Silverthorn, "We provide drivers the opportunity to go through an evasive course."

In addition to drop-off and pickup training, the drivers weave through a high speed course featuring road cones and obstacles. Drivers are encouraged to push speeds of 20-25 MPH while not using the break. An instructor yells right or left to simulate the object's direction.

"First time I was on the road, and there was this great big thing that landed in the middle of the highway," said Twila Bentley of her first time driving a bus, "You just never know."

Some of the cones have pictures of teachers or students on them. They are meant to bring an emotional response to what otherwise would be running over an inanimate object.

"It's all you can think about is being responsible for all of them," said Bentley of her passengers, "Every bus driver. It's scary."

It's that fear that is driving these more than 400 bus drivers, some with 20 years experience, to continue to improve on their skills. Bentley said that even after two decades behind the wheel, she can still learn more every day.