It's not new information to most people that alcohol and driving is a bad combination. There are enough television ads, educational initiatives, and outreach/rehabilitation programs to inform most people of the dangers of drinking and driving. On the other hand, the vast majority of drunk driving educational programs tend to approach the subject from the viewpoint of a typical passenger car driver operating a compact, sub-compact, SUV, pickup, or other commonly available private motor vehicle. Few address the significant safety risk posed by bus drivers who irresponsibly drink and then drive.

DUI Laws in the United States

In all 50 of the United States, driving with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher is defined as a crime. Though the .08 figure is familiar to most Americans, many are not aware that they can be arrested and charged even if their BAC is below the legal limit. Erratic, reckless, or otherwise dangerous driving caused by alcohol may be enough to justify an arrest and subsequent conviction - logical, when one considers that alcohol affects different people to varying degrees, and that it is the final result of intoxication (delayed reaction time, poor judgment capabilities, loss of motor control) that poses the danger which DUI laws seek to prevent.

Bus drivers, as operators of extremely large, heavy, and high passenger count vehicles, are often subject to stricter restrictions. Many states, for example, prohibit a person from operating a school bus if he or she has been convicted of driving under the influence in the preceding two years. In other states, however, requirements for school bus drivers are set by individual school districts, leading to a greater degree of inconsistency.

DUI and Bus Accident Injuries

Bus accidents are deadly because they involve such a large vehicle and such a high number of passengers. Though structural designs have been implemented to promote passenger safety, many buses still lack seat belts, making passengers more vulnerable to certain impacts.

Furthermore, when riding on a bus, passengers are not in control of their own safety; they put their trust in the hands of the bus driver and assume that he or she is driving responsibly and not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Bus companies may also be responsible for ensuring that their employees have a clean background and remain clean throughout their employment.