Taking an online traffic school can be an easy way to keep points from getting on your license and can help your insurance rates stay low too. But don’t forget that you have to choose a school the DMV accepts, or they won’t give you credit for it. So, if you’re asking yourself how long does a defensive driving course take, make sure you consider more than just the time involved. Here’s how long each state requires you to complete traffic school according to their state law.

California 

In California, traffic school is 8 hours. However, if you take it online there are no timers, so actual course time will depend on the individual. It could take one to two hours or the entire eight. There is a mandatory 25 question multiple choice quiz at the end in which you need to get 70% correct to pass. Make sure you study!

New York

Traffic school in New York is best known as a defensive driving course. It can stop points from being added to your driving record due to a recent traffic ticket and it can also get NY residents a 3-year auto insurance discount. It will take six hours to complete online. You can finish the course at your own pace.

Texas  

When you receive a traffic ticket in Texas you can take a Driving Safety Course which is very similar to traffic school. The course is 6-hours, but the online version includes 60 minutes in mandatory breaks, so you only have to spend a total of 5 hours taking it.

Florida  

Most FL traffic violators can attend a 4-hour online traffic school or basic driver improvement (BDI) course instead of receiving points on their driving record. However, due to allowance for breaks, students will only have to spend 3 hours and 15 minutes in the BDI online version.  Offenders who have taken the 4-hour course in the last 12 months or are habitual traffic offenders may be designated by the court to take an 8-hour course. There are no timers for this online program, which means students will be able to finish more quickly.

Arizona   

It could take up to 48 hours for an online traffic school to verify your eligibility to take the online course, but once you are deemed eligible, you are required to spend a minimum of 4 hours in the traffic school/defensive driving program.

Kentucky 

Once you receive an eligibility letter from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet you can sign up for an online KY traffic school or 4-hour Aware Driver Course. You must spend a minimum of four hours in the course to obtain your proof of completion certificate and point reduction from the state.

Indiana  

Online Indiana defensive driving school is also four hours long. You can do the entire course in one sitting or log off and back on as often as you like until the four hours have been accumulated.

Nevada  

In Nevada, you are required to spend at least five hours in traffic school online. There is also an 8-hour online DUI course available to those who were ordered by a NV court to take a “Driving Under the Influence” course. The online requirement for this course is six hours.

Virginia

Virginia traffic school is one of the longest online driver improvement courses in the country. It is an 8-hour course, but actual online course time allows for an 80-minute break, which means there is a 6-hour and 40-minutes study time requirement.

Georgia  

Like many states, Georgia has a self-paced online traffic school. You can take it at a time that works for you, complete it all at once, or do it in stages. You will however, must spend a minimum of 6 hours in the course.

New Jersey  

New Jersey requires you to spend at least six hours in traffic school. You can actually remove two points from your NJ driving record by taking the MyImprov NJ MVC approved defensive driving course.

Tennessee 

Four hours is the time you’ll spend taking an online traffic school in Tennessee. You can complete it at a time that’s convenient for you, but you’ll need to spend that length of time to have the course count.

Idaho  

Idaho requires a six-hour defensive driving program or traffic school for their point reduction program. Many sites offer a 10-chapter course that is 36 minutes each. Students can log off and back on as often as they wish. Fortunately, with online traffic school, you can take the course when it’s convenient for you.

What Else Should You Know About Online Traffic School?

There’s usually a final exam to take, and you’ll also have to make sure the course completion certificate finds its way to your insurance company if your state and insurance company gives auto insurance discounts for those who complete the online course.

So, how long does traffic school take? From around one or two to more than eight hours, depending on the state you’re in. Knowing the laws and regulations for DMV approved traffic school in your state is important, make sure you are getting the right program for your needs.

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While the Graduated License Law places restrictions on a driver with a junior license, it also incentivizes young drivers. They can take an additional defensive driving course NY to get a reduced auto-insurance rate.

But what is the difference between driving with a junior license and a senior license?

Distinct Driving Aims

A young driver with a NY junior license has studied the New York manual and driven mostly unsupervised with some restrictions to gain experience – or training – behind the wheel. With a senior license, a teen driver has proven their experience.

Because a junior license is a ticket to train, young drivers must stay within the state of New York when behind the wheel (or in a state with applicable permit regulations). But with a senior license, NY drivers can drive in any state of the country.

New Drivers Have A Probationary Period

Young drivers earning a junior license have a 6-month probationary period. That means, within that timeframe, conviction of any of the following traffic violations results in an automatic 60-day suspension of their license, which is followed by a secondary 6-month probationary period:

• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Racing on public roads
• Driving recklessly
• Distracted driving (any distraction — including conversing with passengers, eating, and adjusting radio)
• Driving while using any portable electronic device, including cellphone, GPS navigation, and tablet
• Any 2 traffic violations

When the suspension ends, a second 6-month probation period begins. Traffic violation committed within this timeframe results a revocation of the junior license of at least 6 months. The end of that period begins yet another 6-month probationary period.

Drivers earning a senior license have no initial probationary period.

Age Rules

If a young driver decides to hold off until they’re a little older to get behind the wheel, their age determines which license they begin with. If they’re 18 or older and pass both the written and driving exams, then senior license it is. But ages 16 up to their 18^th birthday must start with the junior license

Training and understanding the key fundamental principles, as well as the rules, of a discipline are the keys to learning and mastering it. Today’s teenagers are well versed in that concept, thanks to their activities and interests, which can range from playing la cross to performing on the stage. Driving is no different. That’s why, thanks to the Graduated License Law that includes a defensive driving course NY, auto collisions involving teenaged drivers have dropped to almost half of 51,000 that were reported in 2009.

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How to Be Extra Careful

Slippery, snowy, and other conditions unique to the winter months greatly increase the chances of finding yourself in a fender bender or worse. A defensive driving course will decrease your insurance premium in New York even if you’re never in an accident and will pay dividends if you are unlucky enough to trade paint with another car.

As for the Big Apple, there’s one tip that applies to both long-time New Yorkers and tourists alike regarding driving in the city: don’t do it. Seemingly every block in the city presents a virtual defensive driving course’s worth of challenges: speeding bikes, annoying scooters, skateboarders for some reason, pedestrians in crosswalks, pedestrians everywhere else, and endless streams of cars and trucks of every type from semis to the ubiquitous yellow cabs that are still holding the line in the age of Uber; all of them are everywhere at the same time. So, if possible, leave your car outside the city and take a train or ferry into the thick of it; you can take a subway, cab, or Uber anywhere you might want to go.

For Those Who Can’t Give Up Driving

If you insist on driving in the city, there are several tips to remember, some of which are unique to NYC.

1. Right Turns. First, unlike almost everywhere else in the United States, you can’t turn right on red in the city unless there’s an arrow or sign indicating otherwise. It’s also very common for left turns to be prohibited at many intersections for much of the day as indicated by clear signage. If you’re not familiar with the city, don’t let the fact that the city’s a giant, easy to follow grid fool you; know your route before you start driving because you won’t have time to check you phone on the way.

2. Parking. As you can imagine, parking can be a problem. If you find a coveted street spot within a half mile of your destination, jump on it unless you see an entire block with no cars parked on it. That doesn’t just happen; if there are no cars parked on a whole block, there is a reason like street cleaning that will get your car towed quickly.

3. Crosswalks. Your car needs to be completely outside all crosswalks and at least 15 feet from every fire hydrant. Parking tickets are a major source of revenue for the city and parking enforcement is out in force 24/7; expect to pick up a ticket at 2AM the same as you would for parking illegally in the middle of the day. If your car gets towed, it’s entirely possible it will end up in a different borough at a garage that is open for pickups 4 hours a day and charges $100 a day for ‘storage.’

4. GARAGE. Given all of that, it’s probably wise to head straight for a paid lot or garage. Don’t be fooled by lots with suspiciously low rates. It’s not uncommon for a parking lot or garage to have a sign that says “$5 all day” in large letters with “…for every half hour” in tiny letters underneath.

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In New York, if you want to operate a Taxi business or be a Taxi or Uber driver, you need to have completed a defensive driving course and your must have a TLC license. TLC means the Taxi and Limousine Association, an agency created in 1971 and tasked with regulating and licensing New York’s taxicabs, for-hire vehicles, and commuter vans. This association has a board whose commission consists of nine members, eight of them don’t receive a salary. The only salaried person is the chair, and his duty is to preside over the public commission meetings.

Notably, TLC regulates and licenses more than fifty thousand vehicles and more than one hundred thousand drivers. Also, the agency performs emissions and safety inspections of the cross to fourteen thousand taxicabs, three times every year. Moreover, the agency makes biennial inspections of all their TLC-licensed vehicles, making it the most active licensing regulatory agency in the U.S. Want to know how to get TLC license? Easy! Apply for TLC license by following the steps below.

Submitting an Online License Application

TLC has an official website where you can submit your license application online. You can do this by downloading and filling out the TLC application form. This way, you can easily retrieve and turn in your TLC application without much hassle.

You can complete the application by selecting the “apply for a new license” button which is located on the left side of the page. After which, you will be required to select the “type driver” application you are seeking. The driver license types include Street Hail Livery (SHL) driver, for-hire, and medallion. Select one amongst these. Upon receiving your application number, save it or memorize since you will need it when completing the rest of the license requirements. You should then regularly check your TLC application status.

Steps to Acquiring TLC License

There are several steps you need to follow before acquiring your TLC license. However, TLC license requirements are cheap and essential. If you do everything properly, you will no longer have problems with the NYC traffic department. The steps for TLC new application are listed and expounded below.

Upgrade your License

In New York, you will get an NYC license after successfully completing your driving course. To complete the TLC license application, you first need to upgrade the NYC license to become a class E license. This is essential if you plan to drive taxis around the city. The upgrade can cost you between $21 and $28, depending on your age and driving experience.

Take a Defensive Driving Course

To keep your license in good standing, you will need to take a defensive driving course every 18 months. The defensive driving course only takes six hours in New York. It includes information about safe driving and traffic laws. You can either take an online course or an in-person one which makes it very convenient. The cost varies from $30 to $40 depending on the company you choose. After finishing the course, you will get the certificate within seven business days.

Get a Medical Exam

The TLC agency requires all drivers to be fit to ensure that they can drive vehicles safely. As such, you need to visit your physician to get a comprehensive physical examination. After the examination, the physician will fill out and stamp the medical report. This medical exam report can be downloaded and printed from the TLC website.

Take a Drug Test

You can take a drug test anywhere within New York, but it is recommended that you take it in an area near the TLC office. To get the test, all you need to do is to show your driving license and pay a $26 fee. After that, a urine sample will be taken, and the results of the test will be forwarded to TLC. If you successfully pass all of your tests, you will get your TLC Certification.
If you wish to operate or drive for an Uber business in New York, Uber TLC is a necessity, and you can only acquire it by following the above-described procedure. Remember to check your TLC new application status regularly in case additional information is needed.

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The autumn crisp has been wandering through New York for the past few weeks. That means everyone’s favorite transitional season is here: Football Season. As colleges gear up their collegiate pride, the pros are gearing up to represent their state’s pride. One of the most popular sports in the country is about to be underway.

As New Yorkers, however, there’s some bad news.

With game day comes fighting game day traffic. It’s the worst part about this time of year. Not even the glorious education from an online defensive driving course can salvage this seasonal road congestion.

People across the country flock to already clustered cities and campuses to support their favorite hog-tosser (that’s a quarterback, right?) and to ensure the humiliating defeat of their rival team. Competition runs deep in football. That’s why, to make it even more competitive, we’re weighing which football traffic is worse: College or Pro League?

NY College Football Traffic Problems

College Parking:

For all these smart people, you’d think they’d create a smart way to park. College parking is notoriously awful – especially in the big city. The only way you’ll be able to find the right parking space, without paying for the equivalent of a college tuition, is by driving to an obscure neighborhood on the opposite side of campus. This kind of handicap will only lead to more cars on the road, creating the infamous college day campus clog.

College Kids:

College kids can dampen any college gameday festivities. They’re notorious for their reckless behavior and rambunctious attitude. Especially during a tailgate. Driving around a town during a college gameday could mean distracted drivers, street wanderers, and intoxicated nuisances. Students should spend less time drinking and more time staying off the roads!

Cramped Campus Roads:

One other fantastic quality about college campuses are the winding, tiny roads. They’re beautiful and unique to developing an aesthetic educational institution. But when you’re cramming thousands of hungry, enthusiastic college football fans down a narrow one-way, you can expect some major traffic. Efficient infrastructure is a rare sight to be held on the collegiate property.

NY Pro Football Traffic Problems

Expensive Parking – if any at all:

During game day, the lucky few will find parking. Sharing the same problems of their college sibling, the pros have the exact same issues – but on a professional level. If you thought spending money for parking at a college university was expensive, just wait until you realize the price per hour at any parking garage within a mile’s radius of the pro stadium.

Out-of-State Drivers:

When most of the country loves sports, driving on the roads will feel like much of the country is in your state. Because of the popularity of pro league football, you might notice more people flocking to New York this time of year. It’s going to be a traffic issue too.

You’ll catch yourself yelling, “Go back to Pennsylvania!” multiple times this season. When out-of-staters visit the wonderful Empire state, they must adjust to new territory. That means, wrong turns, slow driving, rubbernecking, and everything else that comes out of a drive when in unknown lands.

Too Many People:

New York is already crowded. Pro League football has insurmountable number of fans wanting to visit every game. During the big game day, you’ll be fighting the crowds, rushing in the traffic, and the being subjected to the hectic confusion excited fans. Maybe it might be better to just stream the game from your living room with a couple of buddies.

The Winner Is: Pro football traffic definitely outweighs college football traffic. Choose your outings wisely ?

The post What’s Worse: NY Football Traffic or NY College Football Traffic? appeared first on MyImprov.

Let us lessen the transportation burden you have. We’ve discovered some creative ways to take your children to school. Instead of stressing out about how you’re supposed to make the drop off by 8 o’clock Monday morning, install a ride sharing app or check out the best local bus routes. We’re listing the best ways parents are getting their kids to school in 2018.

School Bus

If you live in the school district you might have access to the school bus system. Most schools have buses that pick up your kids from a specific address. The best thing of all, you don’t have to worry about getting in a car and dropping them off anywhere. The school bus comes to you.

Public Bus

The public bus system is like school buses but for professionals. When your kids can’t make it to the school bus or if you don’t have access to one, you can escort them on to the public buses. Just make sure the drop off is near your child’s school.

Subway

The subway might seem like a dark and dirty place, but it’s perfect for getting your children to school. There’s no better way of getting to know your kid better than sharing the same seat in a cramped, confined space full of strangers. The subway is like a school bus, but underground.

Ride Sharing

Ride sharing is very popular in larger cities. Instead of driving your own car to your child’s school, a stranger can drive you in their car. Using a rideshare could make the morning commute to work easier for you and child. We give this suggestion five stars, unless it hits a curb.

Your Own Car

The most popular way parents get their children to school is by driving their own car. You have complete freedom of when you leave, the music you play, and how fast you want to drive. The best thing of all is you don’t have to share the car with a stranger. Unless you have a distant relationship with your child…

Tandem Bicycles

Another, albeit, unpopular way of getting your kid to school is by tandem bicycle. Sharing the bike with your child is eco-friendly and will give them exercise in the mornings. Onlookers will watch you and your child in envy as you zip through the congested traffic. The only downside to this suggestion is the ride back.

Walking to School

This idea might be old-fashioned, but, in today’s driving culture, walking can be very underrated. If the school isn’t too far away, parents can walk with their kids to drop them off. Doing so is a great way to bond with your child, getting light exercise, and take in the sights of the neighborhood.

Helicopter

If you’re a high performing real estate mogul, you might want to consider dusting off the propellers of your own helicopter. Your child will impress all their friends when they climb down the drop ladder hovering over the school’s roof. Speaking of which, why don’t more schools have more helicopter landing pads?

The post How Do You Take Your Kids to NY School in 2018? appeared first on MyImprov.

Earlier this year, self-driving cars were causing a bit of commotion in the public. This year, more than ever, self-driving cars were operable on the streets and becoming a common sight to be held. However, this dreamy futuristic reality came to an abrupt halt when an autonomous Uber car struck a pedestrian crossing the street. Perhaps they could have practiced better defensive driving.

This caused a dramatic uproar among people who were already questioning the presence of self driving vehicles on the roads.

But, just like the Terminator in three different iterations, Uber is back. They’re streamlining their self-driving cars on the streets, and we have the details of what passengers and pedestrian cross walkers can expect. Here’s everything you need to know about Uber’s heroic, or villainous, return.

A Not So Autonomous Update

Uber is releasing their fleet of autonomous cars on the streets with a new stipulation. They are driving manually by a human. It’s a not so autonomous update on the vehicles that are marketed as… autonomous.

Implementing a new safety standard, these cars will be monitored in real time to collect data on the performance of the vehicles. The drivers themselves will be serving as guinea pigs (better known as “test drivers”) during this trial period. The goal of this is to create a new, safer version of the inventive ride-sharing idea.

The drivers will be accompanied by another employee, who are called “mission specialist.” They are responsible for recording data and testing the features that would eventually be used in autonomous driving. Working with the drivers, the team aims to document the on-goings of the vehicle before it turns fully autonomous.

Along with testing the performance parameters of the light and radar detectors in the cars, Uber will be creating new HD maps of the Pittsburgh area with their manual drivers. Uber plans on using Pittsburgh as the hub of its testing ground. Putting as much distance as they can from Arizona.

Where to Find the Vehicles

The vehicles are being rolled out in one specific area. That place is none other than Pennsylvania. More specifically, Pittsburgh. The reasoning behind relaunching the autonomous vehicles in the Keystone state is because Pittsburgh was most heavily affected during layoffs when self-driving cars took over.

Now, the cars are back – but with a manual driver. To influence more job growth in the area, Uber is taking charge and employing drivers to drive the autonomous vehicles in the city. It could be a generous gesture or an act to correct some nasty karma.

Uber’s Autonomous Future

After the fatal crash that occurred in Arizona earlier this month, Uber reported the driver was streaming The Voice while driving the vehicle. The autonomous features of the vehicle failed to find the pedestrian crossing the street, while the driver failed to be paying attention to the street. This combined called for a deadly recipe.

Along with ensuring that their vehicles are performing at optimal capacity, Uber is encouraging trusted drivers to accompany the autonomous cars. Screening responsible drivers who know how to work with self-driving vehicles will be detrimental to the future of Uber. Without drivers who can be trust, Uber might encounter another incident to what happened in Arizona, and, ultimately, set the self-driving vehicle industry back several years.

The future of Uber’s autonomous car endeavors is still uncertain. Over the next year, everyone will be watching whether the company can tame cars that, technically, have a mind of their own.

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Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what road rage is. We all express rage in different ways. Therefore, how we express our rage on the road is going to be unique to ourselves. That’s why we’ve created an extensive list of the top road rage definitions to describe the forms of anger you’d see and to be cautious of.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving is the most common form of road rage. When someone peeves you while on the beat path, it’s easy to drive less defensively. Some signs of an aggressive driver are less patient road maneuvers, driving a little too close to others, and passive aggressive honking. Passive aggressive honking is sometimes worse than angry honking. Try not to drive too closely to these guys.

Habitual Road Rage

Some people are just angry all the time. When you continuously do something, it becomes a habit. For some people, they might not realize how often they’re raging on the roads, because it’s become their habit. Habitual road rage is when a driver has developed a routine of being rageful while driving. It’s expected they’ll tailgate, because they blame others for their misery. Don’t’ upset a tailgater by frequent stops. It’s best just to change lanes.

Situational Road Rage

Have you ever encountered the sweetest person, but, when the car in front of them isn’t paying attention to the street light, they turn into a monstrosity? That’s the situational road rager. They don’t make it a habit of being angry, because they shove all those rageful feelings down – until someone cuts them off in traffic. During these instances they see nothing but red and snap. These drivers are not as easy to steer clear of, but do your best not to tick others off by following the rules of the road.

Tailgating

We’re all familiar with that jerk driving the pickup truck in your rearview mirror. They get too close to the back of your car, because that’s their way of telling you to “speed up.” Nobody enjoys tailgaters. What’s worse is tailgating is seen has a commonality of driver’s everywhere. What people don’t understand is tailgating is a form of road rage. As mentioned before, change lanes and let them pass.

Gesturing

Ever had your window down only to catch the driver next to you flipping you a bird? Gesturing can come and go in your life in a moment’s notice. Often, it’s prompted by doing something reckless. Other times, it could be a person just blowing off some steam. Try not to let these gestures upset you and encourage your inner road rager. Don’t take it personally, and move on.

Brake Checking

Brake checkers are the tailgaters worst enemy. They suddenly stop in the middle of the road, when they notice someone is driving too close to them. The goal is to have the other vehicle rear end them, starting an altercation at the rear-enders fault. The brake checker might feel justified in their actions, but, in reality, they’re just as bad as any other road rager. Don’t let them infuriate you! Change lanes. Hopefully your exit will appear shortly.

Leering and Staring

The leerer or starrer is the creepy ghoul of the road raging family. They’ll talk behind you, when you least expect it. Their only motif is to communicate some sense of anger to you, from behind the wheel of their car. If you’re stopped at a light and notice someone watching you, you could be encountering a leering driver who is ragefully whispering curses under their breath at you. Do not be hypnotized by those hushed tones. Keep your eyes on the road and your head in the game.

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Maybe not so obvious is the level of driving skills New Yorkers have. New York City is full of efficient public transportation options, so it’s understandable that plenty of people living in the state don’t have the same experience driving vehicles as others. Enrolling into a defensive driving course online might not even fix this issue. That’s why we’re exploring just how bad NY drivers are.

The Statistics

In a national report published by carinsurancecomparison.com, New York State was ranked 32nd in reckless drivers. That’s a good rating. The worst state to drive in was Montana, which is understandable, because everyone rides horses there.

Interestingly, New York, a state known to be aggressive in nature, was not so aggressive in its driving nature. Believe it or not, but the state that has built its reputation on ripping people new ones are very polite drivers – at least moderately. The reason being is potentially, because people take it out on each other through furious rage yelling on the streets.

Accident Reports

There’s something more interesting about this statistic. According to the New York Health department, on average, there are 1,098 deaths reported every year in the state due to road incidents. On top of that are 12,093 hospitalized visits from people injured in a traffic-related event.

If New York is the 32nd ranked state for reckless drivers, that means other states, more reckless than New York, have a higher number of deaths and traffic-related injuries. The question shouldn’t be, how bad are NY drivers, but how bad are drivers? We’re looking at you Montana.

New York contains the 3rd most congested city in the world, harsh winters with ice freezing over roads, and mindless animals jumping in front of cars in the forests. The driving conditions are not in the favor of the locals. Despite all of this, New York still preservers as the 32nd reckless drivers state. That’s pretty good considering the odds are not in their favor.

Hey! I’m Walkin’ Here!

Whether it’s ride sharing apps, classic taxis, bus drivers, or other modes of public transportation, getting around the city or any other part of the state is quick and simple. Transportation is so efficient in the state, even the rats don’t have a problem getting around the city. That’s why it’s important to demystify the stereotype that not all New Yorkers are atrocious drivers.

Sure – they might chew you out for walking or almost hitting them when they are trying to cross the street… or highway, but it’s coming from a good place. They might be yelling, “You almost hit me, you $#&@!” But what they are really yelling is, “New York state is stereotyped as having poor drivers, please take an initiative to help change that by being a defensive driver, have a nice day!” Don’t make other New York drivers look bad by being an awful driver.

While traveling around the state, remember to be a defensive driver. If you’re not, you can’t use the excuse that New York is a reckless state. The average driver has a pretty good experience with operating a vehicle, so that means you should too.

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New York is known for its superb public transportation. Every day millions of people opt to use the large amount of transit services available to them. In fact, many New Yorkers bypass taking their online defensive driving course, because they do not own or drive a car.

However, getting lost in the heat of bouncing from one bus to the next can be stressful and exhausting for passengers. But nothing compares to the turmoil NY bus drivers go through daily! You might think the guy who’s stretching his leg too close to your personal space is frustrating, just try spending a day behind the wheel of a bus. Think of them before venting your blues and be more respectful to them. It may become second nature to you after reading about their salaries and hardships below.

What They Pay for a Hard Day

Every day, NY bus drivers make thousands of stops across the city or town they live in. Letting people on and off the bus is their line of work, and they get paid the big bucks to do so. At least, that’s what people tend to believe. The average bus driver in the state of New York will make roughly $35,000 a year. For perspective, the average 2-bedroom apartment in New York is $1,638.

In some districts, bus drivers will get paid around $12 an hour. That’s getting paid $12 for 60 excruciating minutes of dealing with angry patrons, distressed lunatics, and everything disgusting that’s in between. However, professional bus drivers – who will drive VIPs and other executive personnel – will be paid up to $48,000 a year.

The job doesn’t just pay an average income for above average responsibilities. These unsung heroes get paid in the friendly smiles and greetings by their grateful passengers. Everyone is kind to bus drivers, right?

It’s a Hard Bus Stop Life

Bus drivers are people too. Typically, media will depict them stereotypically as being gross and disgusting. This is far from the truth; however, the working conditions of a bus driver doesn’t help their case.

Often, they are subjected to 12-15-hour work days and may get called into work for overtime. This involves long hours sitting in the same, uncomfortable seat. For some, the only exercise they get is rounds of jaw clenching brought on by disrespectful passengers.

Bus drivers are subjected to the same malarkey as everyone else, except multiple times on the countless routes they make every single day. The person who is playing music from their phone’s speaker or the two guys breaking out into an argument are just a few examples of the personalities that appear on a day-to-day basis. Not to mention the infamous, “My bus fare is somewhere in my purse,” excuse giver. Even bus drivers will get annoyed at the people who search for their fare and hold up lines.

As a bus driver, you must have extreme patience and a cool demeanor to survive the gruesome work days. People can make or break the drivers who work in public transportation. Next time you’re spending time on the bus, try starting up a small conversation with the driver – it might help cut up the monotony of the day. You could even cheer them up. At the very least, wish them a good morning or a pleasant evening. When you have to put up with chaos, it’s nice to have a little acknowledgement.

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