Tractor-trailer hits school bus on Route 44

Dennis I agree with you completely. I was just posting another scenario of what could have happened. My point was that everyone seems to jump to conclusions when posting about some of the articles on here without knowing the facts. I can’t stand to watch people put blame on someone by accusing them of doing something that was never mentioned at all, such as the cell phone comment. I can’t say who was at fault as I don’t have the complete story and they (news reporters) only report what they deem necessary leaving it to ignorant people to post non truths about something they know nothing about. This could have been anyone’s fault but without the facts who are we to blame a certain individual.

Also in response to one of your comments. I do always try to leave room for extra judgment but sometimes that person I am watching out for could care less what happens. if someone turns in front of you without a directional and cuts you off how are you suppose to react. I always have the mentality that anything can happen at anytime but you can’t always be prepared for every incident as hard as you try. I love my job and the children I transport and do my best everyday but sometimes your best may not be enough. That doesn’t make you a bad person but to some you should be condemned because they only know half truths. Good Luck driving 44 and stay safe.

At the end of the day, the truck driver will be held at fault. Any rear end collision in a truck will be deemed following too close no matter how fast the bus stopped. I am not “speculating” in my comment. As a truck driver for many years, and many safety meetings and videos and tests under my belt. rear enders are always the drivers fault(unless he got it up the rear, of course). Thankfully this was minor, but DOT reportable because patients were transported by EMS.
  Atleast once a day I take evasive action to avoid a collision. And nobody cares.Sometimes with only inches between me and some moron driving under my trailer. But the one time I am off just a little in my game. That is when people will care.just like this poor guy. one momentary lapse in his judgement is all it took. Again thank god it was minor.

Mysteria, yes I have driven that section of road many times, in my personal vehicle, with a school bus, and also with a motor coach weighing 25 tons, as opposed to the approximately 13-15 tons that a school bus weighs.

I stand by what I said.  Just because I drive / have driven that section of road with a variety of vehicles does NOT mean I believe the road doesn’t have a lot of problems, safety issues, etc., and a lot of people driving inappropriately.  I will also say that my knuckles are white every time I drive that road.  It’s a poorly designed road.  And my very good friend was made a widow by someone not driving safely on that road.  So you are not telling me something I don’t already know.

Mysteria, if you are a bus driver, you KNOW for a fact every bit as much as I do the SMITH system, or at least the concepts behind it.  You know 2 of the keys are GET THE BIG PICTURE and LEAVE YOURSELF AN OUT.

If you read back to the initial comments Mysteria, the talk was immediately blame the truck driver for texting/talking on a cell phone.  That’s right, blame everything on someone texting or talking on the cell phone. 

We don’t have all the facts here.  The general public probably will never know the whole story, although they deserve to.  Discussion is good…we have both professional drivers and non-professional drivers commenting on this.  There are two sides to every story, and the professional driver’s side never gets heard.  Yeah, that truck was undoubtedly very heavy, and who is to say that he may not have been under pressure to make a delivery at a certain time, or had people behind him honking their horns.  I know all about stopping distances, and sometimes it’s hard to judge am I really following far enough back, and if I follow too far back will I just get cut off and have the problem get worse all the time.

Am I blaming the truck driver?  To an extent, yes.  Was he entirely at fault?  I never said he was.

AS a bus driver and the daughter of a truck driver, I have to say that anyone who has driven either would not be making these comments. Have you ever driven 44 in Rehoboth? That road can be dangerous. How do you know that the car that was turning or turned in front of the bus did not cut the bus off or stop abruptly to turn??? If that is what happened maybe the bus driver had to stop short with a truck behind that has a full load. That truck with a full load of mulch would take much longer to stop and could be the cause of minor damage. If the truck was following to closely there would have been significant damage. I love how everyone here seems to know exactly what happened and is ready to put the blame on someone WITHOUT all the facts! Get the facts straight BEFORE you accuse. I am not saying that I am right but I am not going to sit here and put the blame on something I only know a little about. Its not fair.

Also, if you read the story itself, the word “accident” is not mentioned a single time.