Are Mamaroneck Bus Drivers Speeding?

When a Mamaroneck mother of three witnessed an Ardsley bus carrying fourth graders from the Mamaroneck Avenue School (MAS) that appeared to be speeding down I-95 in December 2012—on the way back from the Bruce Museum in Greenwich—she whipped out her cell phone to shoot video. 

"Myself and another mom saw it and both reported it," said Nancy, who asked to be identified only by her first name. Nancy estimates the bus’s speed as 75 mph, though the exact number is difficult to determine. 

New York State Education Law stipulates that school buses are not permitted to exceed 55 mph when transporting children.

After that incident, the district responded by asking the driver to be removed from their roster, she said. Nancy documented another incident on Feb. 12, 2013 on her son's kindergarten trip to Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk, in which she said the driver was exceeding 65 mph. In her video, which can be viewed by clicking above the article, Nancy films herself traveling at 65 mph while trailing the bus, which is ahead of her. 

"The other mother actually pulled in front of the bus to force it to slow down on 95," she said.  

And, on May 6, when Nancy's daughter was traveling to Muscoot Farm in Katonah, she said the bus was traveling 65 mph, even passing a tow truck traveling in the middle lane on 287. Nancy said she approached the driver after the children had exited the bus. 

"I went up to the driver to ask him why he would speed with three classes of 7 and 8-year-olds on board. He slammed the window in my face and drove off in the parking lot," she said. 

One mother who witnessed the December incident and asked not to be identified, said she was following the bus back from the museum after her daughter became ill and needed a ride home. 

"He was maybe going a little bit fast," she said, continuing, "I wasn't thinking it was going to be dangerous for the children, though."  

She said she had not witnessed any other incidences of buses speeding and said that she did not want anyone to lose their job. 

Others seemed more concerned about buses disregarding traffic regulations on Mamaroneck Avenue, in front of MAS. 

Jeanne, who asked to only be identified by her first name, said that she has witnessed an Ardsley bus traveling at approximately 40 mph down Mamaroneck Avenue at 3:15 p.m. on May 6 in a 20 mph school zone, with students on board.  

"It was dismissal time when many kids and parents were crossing Mamaroneck Avenue," she said. 

And on May 14, she said she also saw a bus with no students on board go through a red light on Mamaroneck Avenue. 

A crossing guard at MAS who asked for her name not to be used, said she has witnessed buses going through yellow lights and exceeding the 20 mph speed limit in the school zone. 

"There is no question, you can see it ahead of time," she said, referring to traffic lights on Mamaroneck Avenue, which are visible from a distance. 

The Mamaroneck School District contracts with Royal Coach Bus Company for their drivers—formerly Ardsley Bus Company—after a decision was made to outsource transportation employees in the 2012-13 budget. The buses still bear the name Ardsley on the outside, so as not to “confuse the children” said the guard. 

The crossing guard says she doesn't really know the new drivers. 

"The new people are not driving like the old Mamaroneck drivers," she said, adding that the former employees were tested twice per year and unionized. Many of the former district transportation employees have retired, she said. 

Dr. Robert Shaps, superintendent of Mamaroneck Schools, told Patch that the district has been vigilant in following up with any parent complaints concerning student safety on buses. 

“We ensure that all bus drivers follow the law—that is our expectation,” he said, adding that the district has a right to remove a driver “any time for any reason.” 

Shaps said that the district has advised parents who witness bus drivers speeding or exhibiting reckless driving behavior to contact the police immediately and report the incident. 

Shaps said faculty members have ridden on buses, but have not witnessed incidences of bus drivers speeding. 

Though the district has responded to Nancy’s concerns by speaking directly with the bus company, he said several bus drivers had objected to her banging on bus doors and confronting them and had threatened legal action as a result.  

Nancy, for her part, says her main concern is for the welfare of the children. 

“I just want people to be safe with our kids on the bus.  I don’t want anyone fired, I just want it to stop.”

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article stated that faculty members rode buses after a mother complained about buses speeding; faculty members always ride buses for field trips.  The article has been corrected to reflect this.