National School Bus Safety Week takes place every year during the third week of October. According to the National Association for Pupil Transportation, the celebration of this week is meant to bring together school transportation professionals, students, families, educators, motorists, and communities nationwide to reinforce one shared priority: keeping students safe on and around the school bus.
In that spirit, for this month's Staff Spotlight, we are highlighting one of our amazing D38 bus drivers!
John Res is a native Australian, but has called the Pikes Peak Region home now for almost 30 years. He's done a lot of different things and had a unique journey to find his way to D38. John says his favorite part about working in the transportation department is the relationships and camaraderie. He's also very serious when it comes to his responsibility of keeping our students safe.
Read more about John's unique journey and his insights on transportation safety below.
How long have you been a school bus driver, and what did you do before this?
I’ve been a bus driver here for just under two years. Before that, back in Australia, I was a master electrician and had my own business. I got tired of working in attics and under floors, so I began working with the electricity utility and through that, got into commercial marketing. I was also, when required, a safety inspector and went to a lot of fires The government was trying to reduce the deficit by selling off some of their assets, and we were one of their assets. At that time I had been there 17 years, and when I found out what I was going to be offered as severance pay, I put my hand up, and my wife and I decided we’d move over here. My wife Brooke is American and her parents lived here in Colorado Springs. We’d been here a couple of times to visit, and I love the skiing here, so we decided to move here.
What led you to this role in the D38 Transportation Department?
After coming here, I was able to work for my father-in-law. He had previously served in the Air Force and had started a property management business. After he retired, my wife and I took over the business and kept it going for about 10 years. We later sold the business, and I got back into construction. The last house I built was more than 20 years ago now. I decided to retire, and after three months of climbing the walls, my neighbor Alan, who was a D38 bus driver, told me to come and talk to Julie (D38 Transportation Manager). I did that, and then started working here.
What is your favorite part about the job or driving a school bus?
I’ve worked in the corporate world, had my own business, and done a lot of things on my own, but what I like about working in D38, especially the transportation department, is the camaraderie. Everyone here has done other things, but they’ve come here and nobody is out to prove anything. We all have great relationships among the drivers, and everyone is very friendly and gets along, which is awesome. Julie, Mike, and Caleb look out for the drivers, and they know what it’s like to drive and work with all the children. They support us really well. I really enjoy working here.
What are some of the biggest safety responsibilities you’re thinking about every day, and what do other drivers on the road need to know about being safe around school buses?
The number one priority for me, and all of the other drivers, is the children’s safety. A lot of people still don’t understand that when we’re coming up to a stop, we put out that stop sign for a reason. I am still so surprised how many people will run that stop sign. That’s my biggest concern. Thankfully, we do have the designated signals we give them [students] to move across and get to the other side of the road. There is a process. Also, just being aware and not being in such a hurry. I’m always so surprised by how many people try to get in front of the bus when we’re coming up to an intersection. It’s only a difference of a minute or two.
What is something people might be surprised to learn about being a school bus driver or might not know?
I don’t think people understand that buses are 40-feet long. So it takes time to get off the mark and we have to do things like stop at railroad crossings. We check the crossing or intersection to make sure everything is all clear, and then we move across. I’ve had people sit on their horns while waiting for me to go across, and I just don’t understand that. There’s even a sign on the back of the bus that says "We stop at every railroad crossing.” In the snow too, it’s like driving a 40-foot sled. Let us take our time, and we’ll get the kids where they need to go in a safe way. Also, my route goes up around Mount Herman, and we’ve seen deer, bears, fox, and even a mountain lion. Basically everything. So first thing in the morning, I’ll actually be going quite a bit slower than the speed limit because the deer and everything are crossing the roads.
Is there a message or anything you would like to share with the students who ride your bus or your teammates in the transportation department?
To the students, everything we’re doing is on your behalf. Our priority is your safety. Please follow the rules of the bus.