Who ultimately decides when weather conditions make the roads unsafe for travel?

The bus driver is responsible for making real-time decisions based on the prevailing conditions of the roads. This includes assessing safety when it pertains to adverse weather conditions such as snow, ice, or heavy rain. While other individuals like school principals or bus company management may provide guidelines and policies regarding weather-related travel, it is the bus driver who is on-site, observing the immediate conditions and making critical judgments about whether it is safe to continue driving.

The bus driver has the training and experience to evaluate factors like visibility, road conditions, and the performance of the bus in limited traction scenarios. This on-the-spot assessment is essential for the safety of all passengers, especially considering the unique challenges that come with driving a school bus, which can have a larger blind spot and different handling characteristics compared to standard vehicles.

Thus, the driver's authority to make decisions about safety under various weather conditions is crucial for ensuring the well-being of students, other road users, and themselves.