When parents put their children on a yellow school bus each morning, they trust the driver to deliver them safely to class. That trust was shaken earlier this month when a Georgia school bus driver was arrested for driving under the influence with an open container, and students still on board.
According to the arrest report, the driver was pulled over after officers observed erratic behavior behind the wheel. They discovered an open container and determined the driver was impaired as students sat just feet away. The driver was taken into custody and now faces DUI charges.
Accidents like these are not a one-time occurrence. A review of public safety data, accident statistics, and school transportation reports reveals a complicated picture of bus safety in Georgia.
By The Numbers
From 2018 to 2022, Georgia reported 27 fatal school bus crashes, resulting in 29 deaths.
In the Atlanta metro area, since July 1, 2016, school buses have been involved in more than 700 accidents, according to Georgia Department of Education records.
In 2023 alone, the Atlanta region recorded around 80 bus accidents, with at least 5 fatalities and 45 injuries.
These numbers make Georgia among the states with a high number of school bus–related crashes.
Nationally, however, school buses remain one of the safest forms of student transportation.
Tracking The Problem
What remains harder to identify are the traffic violations and criminal charges against bus drivers themselves.
Georgia does not publish a statewide database specifically tracking how many bus drivers are cited for offenses like reckless driving, speeding, or DUI. Instead, arrests appear piecemeal in county court records or local news reports.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety and local school districts confirm that drivers undergo background checks and drug screening before hire. However, violations that occur once drivers are employed are tracked inconsistently across districts.
Statistically, school buses are still the safest way for children to get to school. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows that children are 70 times more likely to arrive safely when taking a bus compared to a car.
