Carroll County Public Schools will celebrate Bus Drivers and Bus Assistants Recognition Day on Tuesday, Oct. 23. This recognition is part of National School Bus Safety Week, which will be observed the week of October 22-26.

The Carroll County Public School System currently has 438 bus drivers and 103 school bus assistants who are responsible for the daily transportation of approximately 26,000 students according to a CCPS news release. The bus drivers and assistants travel more than 5.3 million miles annually with over 9,000 daily bus stops. 

Bus drivers are required to have a commercial driver’s license with passenger endorsement and be certified by passing required pre-service classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction. They also must attend a minimum of six hours of in-service instruction each year. In addition, drivers must annually pass a stringent physical examination and are subject to random and post-accident drug and alcohol testing.