Driver Honored for Saving Student From Truck Passing Her School Bus
Becky Schaffer receives Citrus County (Fla.) School District's "Making a Difference Award" after helping prevent a student from being hit by a truck that illegally passed her bus in April.
Sadiah Thompson・Assistant Editor
September 16, 2019
Citrus County (Fla.) School District presented Becky Schaffer (center) with the district's "Making a Difference Award" after she helped prevent a student from being hit by a truck that illegally passed her bus in April. Photo courtesy Citrus County School District
2 min to read
Citrus County (Fla.) School District presented Becky Schaffer (center) with the district's "Making a Difference Award" after she helped prevent a student from being hit by a truck that illegally passed her bus in April. Photo courtesy Citrus County School District
INVERNESS, Fla. — A school bus driver here was honored for her heroic actions on Tuesday after helping prevent a student from being hit by a truck that illegally passed her bus in April.
The incident, which took place on April 18, was captured on a video surveillance camera on a Citrus County School District bus, according to a post on the district’s Facebook page. The footage reportedly shows the student getting off the bus in the eastbound lanes of State Rd. 44 near South Sunfish Avenue, when the driver, Becky Schaffer, alerts the student to get back on the bus as the truck speeds by. The student, according to the district, was able to hear Schaffer and safely reenter the bus.
Ad Loading...
On Tuesday, Citrus County School District board members and Superintendent Sandra “Sam” Himmel presented Schaffer with the district's "Making a Difference Award" in honor of her quick actions, according to a board meeting video on the district’s website. While presenting the award, Himmel said “I truly believe she saved the life of this student,” and “what a marvelous job she did with her alertness to keep our kids safe.”
The Citrus County School District added in its Facebook post that Schaffer is a “true hero,” and that the district thanks her for her “quick actions in this situation and also the tremendous job you do for our kids each and every day.”
Despite being called a hero, Schaffer told Fox 13 News that she was only doing her job. She added that she hopes this incident will serve as a reminder for motorists to slow down, and that “it’s not worth it to go flying by and take a chance of risking my life, your life, and our kid’s life.”
View the full post from Citrus County School District as well as screenshots of the bus surveillance video, posted on the district’s Facebook page, below.
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.
Driver shortages, safety expectations, and staffing limits define student transportation in 2026. New survey data shows how fleet leaders are responding.
The federal agency's report asks NHTSA to require all new school buses to be equipped with vehicle-integrated alcohol detection systems and passenger lap-shoulder belts.
Student transportation teams are being asked to do more with less, facing driver shortages, rising costs, and increasing safety expectations. This report uncovers how fleets are adapting, where technology is making the biggest impact, and why student ridership tracking is emerging as a top priority. Download the report to explore the key trends shaping 2026 and what they mean for your operation.
A Carroll County accident claimed the lives of two students and injured over a dozen others on a March 27 field trip for eighth graders at Clarksville-Montgomery County. A preliminary report adds new information to the story.
From driver shortage solutions in Tennessee and rural connectivity debates in Utah to new safety laws in Wisconsin and ongoing electric bus mandate discussions in New York and Connecticut, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Waymo’s self-driving vehicles are under fire again after repeated school bus passing violations, raising questions about safety, remote operators, and regulation.
