The Yellow Buses of Doom and Their Traffic of Danger

The bell rings every day at 2:50; for most, it’s a blessing, and yet the smell of danger lingers among the students. So many student drivers have had the iconic yellow buses in their past and were so eager to escape, but now they might think again. At least when being inside of the buses the danger was unlikely. After all, it's no question who is winning in a hard-fought battle between a school bus and a lousy old car. Any student driver or teacher who finds themselves leaving the school around about 3:05 P.M. will experience a certain arrogance that this superiority has given our buses. Yes, the buses will be triumphant, but we hope a day will come when we no longer have to have fear of even the mere hint of a battle. 

First, a disclaimer. We always appreciate our bus drivers and their duties to our students and school community. We are simply wondering if more precautions could be taken to ensure car drivers’ peace of mind at the very least. Buses can be seen suspiciously disregarding the bus loop stop sign in the morning and turning left as student drivers attempt to turn. Running red lights and forcibly switching lanes much too close for comfort are other questionable decisions. Perhaps the most iconic is the supreme form of teamwork at the end of the day where the flow of traffic is stopped for minutes at a time for every bus to complete their turn. This action solely is perhaps understandable if done safely, but that is, in fact, the issue. The turns do not consider other cars, and if you try to go during a seemingly adequate gap, it will quickly disappear and you might be left fearing for you and your car’s integrity. 

Additionally, they just don’t seem to put too much emphasis on caution in general. “I was walking my dog in my neighborhood and had to quickly move out of the way and was honestly worried about it for a couple of seconds. I shouldn’t have to have fear when encountering a bus in my neighborhood,” said Trini Ferreira (12)

But is it allowed? The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles clearly says no. The only extra rule is that cars must stop when buses do to let students off and on. When a bus is solely driving along with no stops being made for students, they do not automatically have the right of way in every situation. Although the sign remains in front of the bus loop that only buses are allowed from the hours of 7 A.M. to 4 P.M., students received express email permission last year to use the loop in the morning; the gate still gets closed in the afternoon. This disintegrates the argument that buses can do whatever they please leaving and entering their loop because it is ‘only for them’. Additionally, the stop sign still very much exists, no matter who is using it.

 “It’s really just such an inconvenience for people driving to and from school, and it really just feels dangerous,” said Cora Allen (11), who began driving to school this year. 

“I can see why the kids are upset about it,” said teacher Ms. S, who has heard many a conversation and complaint about the close calls her students have had with the buses. The student parking lot is already a very scary place; leaving the grounds should not be a heart-attack-inducing moment on top of it all. So what can be done about it? 

Unfortunately, as all of them seem to have formed some sort of army of illegality, it is unlikely that any consequences will occur to any bus in use. Buses hate cars, cars hate buses; it’s just a mutual understanding of dislike that, unfortunately, BHS drivers must accept. However, if you see or witness anything especially dangerous, illegal, and particularly provable, be sure to report it to administration. 

If student drivers take away anything from this article, let it be this: never assume the yellow buses of doom will yield. If they start going, they will not stop! Stay safe, stay alert, and try not to make them angry!

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Written and Photographed by Audra Kowalik