MENU
SEARCHIllinois Gov. Pat Quinn approves the bill, which requires bus drivers to submit to drug and alcohol testing if there is a reasonable suspicion that the driver is under the influence. Drivers who fail or refuse to submit to the test will have their school bus permit suspended for three years.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Last week, Gov. Pat Quinn approved a bill that cracks down on bus drivers who are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in an effort to better protects students.
House Bill 147, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Dugan (D-Bradley) and Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights), was passed unanimously by the legislature. The new law imposes a three-year suspension of a bus driver's license if the driver tests positive for alcohol or drugs or refuses a blood-alcohol test.
There had not been a zero-tolerance policy like this in state previously, Illinois Secretary of State Jessie White told WJBD Radio.
Nearly a year ago, a school bus driver was driving students home under the influence of alcohol. This prompted the new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2012.
The law allows school bus companies to require drivers to submit to alcohol and drug testing if there is a reasonable suspicion that they are under the influence of a substance, WJBDRadio reports. The secretary of state's office will suspend the school bus permit of a driver for three years if he or she fails or refuses to submit to the test.
Driverless cars may feel the future, but student transportation requires more than navigation. Here’s why it demands human judgment, empathy, and oversight.
Read More →
An 11-year-old in Brooklyn was killed crossing the street. Meanwhile, the school bus driver faces misdemeanor charges after he left the scene.
Read More →
The 2026 Disaster Response Guide is officially underway, and we’re now opening a Call for Insights and Experts.
Read More →
Ongoing driver shortages nationwide are forcing tough transportation decisions. See how districts are using supplemental transportation to maintain coverage for high-needs students.
Read More →
A Rockland County child was struck by their school bus late last week. Here's what we know so far about this and other fatalities and injuries in the area over the years.
Read More →
As Maine becomes one of the first states to require anti-pinch door sensors on new school buses, manufacturers like Mayser offer a look at how the technology works and why it's a critical fail-safe.
Read More →
What if your fleet technology actually worked together? Learn eight practical strategies to integrate multiple systems into one platform, unlocking clearer insights, stronger safety standards, and smoother daily operations.
Read More →
A recent Verra Mobility survey reports that 82% of parents support safety cameras to penalize stop-arm violators and 70% favor automated enforcement in school zones.
Read More →
$10 million in state grants will fund safety upgrades and new features on school buses serving students across the Buckeye State.
Read More →
After complications in multiple cities when self-driving taxis failed to stop for school buses, the NTSB joins NHTSA in a probe to determine what's behind the tech and related safety concerns.
Read More →
