Spotlight on Bus Driver Safety Records in Broward County

In Broward County, hundreds of people board the mass transit system every day, never giving a second thought to the possibility that a bus accident may occur along the way. The evidence though, shows that they might want to take a second thought before boarding that bus.

While a high percentage of Broward County Transit drivers do have accident-free records, a small percentage have an extremely high number of incidents – so many that it seems hard to believe that these drivers still have a license. An example of this is a 62-year-old male driver currently working in Broward County. He has amassed a staggering 16 accidents since his hiring in 1994, including serving one 30-day suspension. Records show he has also received 25 warning slips for a variety of offenses, including tardiness and hitting street signs.

At the heart of this matter is the way that the transit systems tracks crashes involving transit drivers. Transit drivers belong to a union, and their contract dictates the way offenses are handled. Crashes are broken down into two categories, those where the driver was at fault and those that are deemed unavoidable. Regardless of the severity, all crashes are currently treated equally, from a fender bender to a seven car pileup.

Bus union leaders agree that reform is needed, but don’t see any common ground that both sides can agree on. For the system to change, it must be put to a vote with union representatives. Currently, the county is not offering any concessions in exchange for system reform, which would make a ‘no’ vote almost certain. To entice union representatives, more incentives such as increased benefits or higher pay may it much easier to promote the changes within the union.

As for the bus driver with 16 accidents, only one of them involved serious injury. The accident involved a female motorist who was hit by his bus in January of 2013. She sued and her case was recently settled for $75,000. It seems that this accident could have been prevented by keeping the bus driver from getting behind the wheel.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident, please contact James O. Cunningham today at 386-243-4994 for a free initial consultation..

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.