Who makes the final decision about unsafe weather conditions for travel?

The school bus driver is responsible for making the final decision about unsafe weather conditions for travel due to their direct involvement and experience in navigating the bus. The driver is trained to assess road conditions, weather patterns, and the safety of the vehicle and its passengers. This includes evaluating the immediate environment, such as visibility, road surface conditions, and weather forecasts, which are critical for ensuring the safety of students during transport.

While school administration, the bus repair team, and local authorities may provide guidelines or advisories about travel conditions, the bus driver is the one who is actively engaged in operating the vehicle and monitoring current situational factors. They have the authority to determine if it is unsafe to proceed with a trip based on their firsthand observations and professional judgment.

This decision-making autonomy is vital, as the driver's priority is the safety of the students. Hence, they must feel empowered to make the call to delay or cancel a trip, should conditions be deemed hazardous.