LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A National Transportation Safety Board official highlighted school bus seatbelt use and crash investigations while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s chief counsel discussed CDL integrity and driver training at the National Association for Pupil Transportation Annual Conference.

Meg Sweeney, an NTSB project manager and accident investigator, described during the Oct. 4 general session how the independent federal agency investigates selected crashes, identifies probable causes and issues recommendations intended to prevent future incidents. The NTSB investigates significant crashes across several transportation modes, including highway, rail, pipeline and marine. The following day, NTSB dispatched investigators to Polk County, Florida following the fatal school bus crash there.

On Sunday before nearly 200 NAPT attendees, Sweeney said NTSB’s highway safety office has about 35 staff members, so the agency cannot investigate every fatal highway crash. Investigators assess factors such as the crash’s significance, public attention and the potential for the investigation to improve safety. A team may include experts in driver behavior, vehicle condition, motor carrier practices, occupant protection and roadway design.

NTSB may also invite organizations with relevant technical expertise to participate as party members. For a school bus investigation, that could include a school district, state transportation officials, law enforcement, a vehicle manufacturer or federal agencies. Party members can contribute information and review factual material for accuracy before it is published, Sweeney added.

Seatbelt Use and Driver Impairment

Sweeney focused on an NTSB investigation of a school bus rollover in Leander, Texas. The bus was equipped with lap-shoulder belts at every passenger seat, but investigators could confirm that only six of the 42 students were restrained. Video showed four students wearing the lap portion of their belts while placing the shoulder belt behind them. Investigators could not verify how the other two students were belted.

NTSB issued urgent recommendations to Leander Independent School District, the state of Texas and national school transportation organizations. The recommendations called for enforceable seatbelt policies and procedures, including pre-departure reminders, periodic checks, review of onboard video and training for students and families on proper belt use.

Sweeney said Leander ISD had begun making changes before receiving the recommendation. The NTSB was still awaiting a response from Texas at the time of the presentation. The agency also praised the school transportation organizations for sharing the recommendations with their members.

Another investigation involved a school bus driver impaired by alcohol in Millstone, West Virginia. Sweeney said the driver initially registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.16 and later registered 0.12 following the March 4, 2024 incident, where the school bus right rear wheels left the roadway and struck a culvert. Three students suffered serious injuries, including a teenager who later required a leg amputation, during the resulting school bus roll over. Sixteen students sustained minor injuries.

The legal limit for commercial drivers is 0.04. Sweeney said the crash renewed NTSB’s interest in vehicle-integrated alcohol detection systems, she said. In a separate rollover crash without lap-shoulder belts, students were displaced from their seats.

NTSB is also investigating fatal incidents in Maine and New Jersey, in which students were struck near school buses or school buses dragged the students in the loading door, as well as reports of Waymo autonomous vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses. Sweeney noted that the agency uses onboard video and other available records as important evidence in its investigations.

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FMCSA Emphasizes CDL and Training Standards

Rebecca Pettit, FMCSA chief counsel, said federal priorities include maintaining the integrity of commercial driver’s licenses and ensuring that drivers receive meaningful training. She described the CDL as a safety credential, particularly for drivers transporting students, and said qualifications and proficiency should not be weakened in response to driver shortages.

Pettit said FMCSA had removed 10,000 training locations from its Training Provider Registry as of the month of the presentation, with another 1,000 locations under review. She said the agency is working to ensure Entry-Level Driver Training providers are legitimate, and that training includes demonstrated behind-the-wheel skills, rather than relying only on classroom instruction or self-certification.

She also emphasized that FMCSA does not regulate every aspect of pupil transportation. Government-operated school transportation and routine home-to-school service are exempt from most federal motor carrier regulations, she said, although CDL and drug-and-alcohol requirements apply. Federal rules can also apply to some interstate transportation provided by private schools or contractors. Applicability depends on factors such as who provides the service, vehicle capacity, compensation, trip purpose and whether the operation crosses state lines.

Pettit encouraged school districts and contractors to contact FMCSA field offices when they are uncertain about their responsibilities. She also urged transportation professionals to comment on proposed federal rules, saying operational experience helps agencies identify unintended consequences and make workable policy. A separate session on Monday shared details on what student transporters need to know about FMCSA audits amid increased enforcement targeting CDL mills and non-domiciled CDL holders.

NAPT, NASDPTS and NSTA Share Updates

Peter Mannella, NAPT’s public policy liaison, said the association’s federal outreach is intended to ensure pupil transportation professionals have a voice in policy discussions. He described meetings with federal agencies as an opportunity to build relationships and bring industry concerns directly to decision-makers.

Curt Macsysn of the National School Transportation Association reported that the recent International School Bus Driver Safety Competition grew from 53 drivers in 2025 to 88 in 2026, with a goal of 100 drivers for the 2027 event in Austin, Texas. He also discussed scholarships for competitors, recruitment of judges with driver or trainer experience, and a proposed “Break for Kids Act” public-service campaign to raise awareness about illegal passing.

Ron Lichtfield of NASDPTS presented results from the group’s voluntary survey of illegal school bus passings. Participating drivers reported 56,024 illegal passings in a one-day study. Extrapolated across an estimated 180-day school year, the figure was about 38.4 million — down slightly from 39.3 million in the previous year’s projection, but still a substantial safety concern. Lichtfield also highlighted updated seatbelt guidance and a resource addressing concerns about aftermarket buckle guards.

Written with the assistance of AI and an audio transcript.

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The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an incident investigation into the fatal Oct. 5 school bus crash in Winter Haven, Florida, as local officials praised the bus driver’s response and provided new details about the victims and investigation.

Despite Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd initially telling reporters that the NTSB was not needed to investigate the multi-vehicle crash that occurred Monday morning, the agency said it is coordinating with his office. An NTSB spokesperson clarified for School Transportation News that it opened an incident investigation rather than a full safety investigation.

“There are no planned reports on this event, but the information we gather could be used to support other investigations and studies in the future,” the NTSB spokesperson explained.

Meanwhile, Polk County authorities identified the student who died as Adinaluz Prieto Oyola, a 16-year-old 10th-grader and cheerleader at Winter Haven High School. Deshawn Smith, 26, the driver of the Jeep struck by the bus, died at the scene, according to the Sheriff’s office. GoFundMe pages have been set up for both Prieto Oyola and Smith.

Three students remain hospitalized but are expected to recover, authorities said.

Sheriff Grady Judd said school bus driver Jessica Dye, 34, was pinned inside the vehicle but pulled herself out and immediately began helping the children on board.

Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid praised Dye as a hero, citing her composure and continued focus on students throughout the crash’s aftermath.

Heid also recognized students and good Samaritans who helped. According to officials, video showed four students attempting to rescue Prieto Oyola from the bus.

Polk County Public Schools issued a new statement expressing condolences and thanking those who supported the community.

“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Winter Haven High sophomore Adinaluz Prieto Oyola,” the district stated. “Thank you to the many people from our county and state who have reached out to show support. A special thanks to the first responders and hospital workers who provided aid yesterday — we truly appreciate you.”

Polk County Schools officials confirmed the school bus was equipped with seatbelts. The exact type were not specified but they are thought to be lap belts, which are often used across the state. State law enacted 25 years ago required seatbelts at all school bus rider positions but did not specify between two-point lap belts and three-point lap/shoulder belts. Regardless of the type, usage by students and drivers is required.

As previously reported by School Transportation News, the crash occurred around 6:15 a.m. Monday on Lucerne Park Road, while the bus was transporting students to Winter Haven High School. Three other vehicles were involved.

The bus carried 39 people: 37 students, Dye, and her 9-year-old daughter. ABC News reported 35 of the bus inhabitants were transported across four local hospitals.

Investigators said a white Chevrolet Malibu crossed the double yellow line and struck the left rear of the eastbound school bus. Judd said a preliminary review of the school bus video showed the bus was in its proper lane before the collision.

Video released by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office shows the collision. Viewer discretion is advised. The the video shows the impact and the inside of the bus. 

The impact tore a tire from the bus and caused it to lose traction, sending it into the westbound lane, where it collided head-on with Smith’s Jeep, according to authorities.

Investigators identified the Malibu driver as Maria Jimenez, 23, who is reportedly a nursing student. They said she cooperated fully, provided her phone, and voluntarily submitted a blood sample.

Authorities said blood test results remained pending. Investigators reported seeing no signs of impairment but had not determined why the Malibu crossed the center line. Judd also reportedly said cell phone usage had already been ruled out as a cause of the crash. A NTSB preliminary investigation report is expected in the coming weeks.

Judd said Jimenez would likely receive traffic citations for crossing the center line. He said criminal charges were not expected unless new evidence emerged.

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About two dozen prospective kindergarten students and their families in Alberta learned how to ride the school bus safely during Pembina Hills School Division’s annual Meet the Bus event, reported Town and County Today News.

According to the news report, the orientation was held Aug. 18 in the student parking lot at Barrhead Composite High School. It was designed to familiarize first-time riders with the school bus and ease any nervousness they might experience before the school year begins.

Transportation assistant Cindy Knapp reportedly said the longtime event gives children an opportunity to become comfortable with the bus in a welcoming environment.

During the event, students and their parents reportedly learned how to wait for and board a school bus safely, as well as how students are expected to behave while riding.

Jeanette Williams, who has driven the Fort Assiniboine school bus for more than 30 years, told attendees that children should remain where the driver can see them. She warned students not to stand too close to the bus or enter one of the vehicle’s blind spots.

“When you get onto the bus, you want to use the handrails and sit down in a seat as soon as you can,” Williams said via the article. “Never stand up and walk around. That’s not safe.”

Williams also addressed why the school bus was not equipped with seatbelts. She explained that its closely spaced, high-backed seats are designed to protect riders through compartmentalization. “The seats are designed and constructed in such a way that they are even safer than if they had seat belts, which is why you need to keep your arms and legs inside the seat,” Williams said via the report.

Editor’s Note — While compartmentalization of students using federally regulated high-back and cushioned seats works in front and rear crashes, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigations show a lack of protection in side-impact and roll-over crashes.

Parents were reportedly instructed to ensure their children arrive at their assigned bus stops at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Williams said routes are planned to allow approximately 30 seconds for each student to board, making punctuality important.

The event concluded with students and their families taking a short bus ride around Barrhead. They then returned to the high school, where snacks were provided.

The ride gave future students an opportunity to practice what they had learned while becoming acquainted with an experience that will soon be part of their daily school routine.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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