I live down at the far end of Nanticoke rd. and I always drive that road with the cruise control locked at 50mph which is the speed limit. I do this because I have found trying to avoid the deer is far easier at 50mph than at 60+.
One thing that drives a lot of us nuts on that road is the school buses. They almost all drive at 40mph which is 10 miles below the posted speed limit. This causes longs lines of traffic backed up and even frustrates drivers into taking risky moves to get around the buses if it seems like we are hitting a long stretch without a passing zone.
At first, I thought the buses going slow is just a safety issue but then I realized that the posted speed limits are what is considered safe for all vehicles on the road. So why are these buses all going so slow ? I did some research and saw that bus drivers in Wicomico county are paid by the hour and not the mile or via salary.
I am not sure how many miles a bus driver drives during the day but let’s just say it’s 100 miles. 100 miles at 40mph will take 2.5 hours of driving. Now if they were to drive at 50mph it would take only 2 hours. So, with that and a 5-day work week that is an extra 2.5 hours they can bill per week. So if they are getting paid $20 per hour that is an extra $50 per week they are gaining while also jamming up traffic in the mornings by going so far below the speed limit.
Let’s say they drive 100 miles in the morning and another 100 in the afternoon, then that is 5 hours per week they are gaining.
I don’t know much about the drivers’ pay and I am sure it’s lower than what it should be and that is not my point. My point is that the bus drivers driving so slow they are creating all kinds of problems for the morning commute and if they just speed up to at least the posted speed limit, it would be a huge help to alleviate the frustration of morning traffic when school is in session.
I will also add that the kids that ride these buses from Waterview, Nanticoke, Bivalve are all out waiting for the bus a little after 6am. Perhaps if the buses drove the speed limit, the students would not have to wait at the bus stop so early.
Interested parties can contact Desmond Hughes, Director of Transportation. 410-677-4497
Somerset County is Suspect !!!
If you schedule travel down Nanticoke Road for times when the busses aren’t running, you won’t be bothered. Most would choose safety and conservation of resources over inconvenience.
“NASDPTS, in a 2000 position paper on school bus speed limits, concluded that school buses should operate at the speed limits that existed before December 8, 1995, when the federal government allowed states to set their own speed limits (or none at all). NASDPTS said there was “ample evidence” that requiring school buses to travel at slower speeds did not pose a safety risk to the buses or other vehicles. Also, it said, traveling at slower speeds reduces (1) potential crash severity and (2) fuel consumption. It argued that driving at higher speeds to shorten travel time “by a few minutes” may not be worth the increased risk. According to NASDPTS, this position remains current.”
Wow “Viewer” – if you had kids on those buses wouldn’t you think that 40mph is simply safer than 50 mph, especially on a road like that? On a starter or interstate highway, I might think 40 is slow and therefore more likely just an effort to manipulate/increase pay. But Nanticoke Rd? Nah. Too many issues. Slower is safer.
GREAT INPUT O.N BUS DRIVERS
KIDS NEED TO WALK MORE TO ONE BUS STOP, AND NOT STOPPING AT EVERYONE’S HOUSE
FUEL COSTS RAPE THE TAX PAYER
They are being safe. I have no problem with them going alittle below the posted speed limit. If you do, maybe you should alter you schedule a bit do you are not on the road with them.
When I was going to school, we had one central bus stop for the entire large community. We all met at that one stop and got on and off the bus, no stopping at every doorstep. Kids need to walk more anyway.
Anything that slows traffic here is a good thing. People here are the worst drivers they can’t even navigate a parking lot.
The board of education transportation department is run like the rest of the B.O.E. departments which consist of assistant to a assistant with no accountability and super attitudes toward #2 males and females and that is a FACT!