NTSB Calls for Alcohol Detection Systems in School Buses

A school bus driver’s alcohol impairment caused a rollover crash in Millstone, W.Va,, that seriously injured three students – one of whom had to have a leg amputated – and underscored the need for alcohol detection systems and passenger lap/shoulder belts on school buses, the National Transportation Safety Board said.

In addition to the three students seriously injured in the March 4, 2024, crash, 16 suffered minor injuries. NTSB said the bus, carrying 19 students, departed the right side of the roadway, returned to the roadway and rolled over onto its right side. The driver was later found to have a blood alcohol concentration reading of 0.161 grams per deciliter.

Alcohol impairment among school bus drivers occurs with concerning frequency, the NTSB found. A Stateline study found that, from 2015 through 2019, 118 school bus drivers nationwide were cited or arrested for operating a bus while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both.

NTSB also noted that active and passive alcohol detection technologies already exist that can prevent a vehicle from operating if driver alcohol impairment is detected. These systems are being used successfully on school buses in parts of Europe as a preventive safety measure.

As a result, the NTSB recommended that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration require all new school buses to be equipped with vehicle-integrated alcohol detection systems.

NTSB investigations have shown passenger lap/shoulder belts on school buses provide increased protection in side impact and rollover crashes like the Millstone crash and a similar crash in Dale, Texas, which the NTSB examined as part of this investigation.

In these types of crashes, the compartmentalized seating design of large school buses alone may not prevent injuries because unbelted children can be thrown from their seating area, strike other occupants or hard surfaces, or be partially or fully ejected from the bus. In both the Millstone, West Virginia, and the Dale, Texas, crashes, the unbelted students were thrown about the interior of the bus, resulting in the increased risk of injuries and ejections.

As part of the investigation, the NTSB reiterated its recommendation that West Virginia require passenger lap/shoulder belts on new large school buses and called on the state to establish enforceable procedures to ensure students use the seat belts properly on every trip.