Tennessee lawmakers consider bill to lower school bus driver age
MGN
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Should Tennessee lower the age to drive a school bus?
A bill is moving through the Tennessee legislature to drop the age of drivers from 25 to 21.
The higher age requirement was passed after the Woodmore Elementary bus crash in Chattanooga nine years ago.
Six students were killed in that crash.
Officials say the 24 year old school bus driver was distracted by using the phone when he ran off the road.
The sponsor of the current bill says lowering the age requirement would address the driver shortage that schools are facing across the state.
He says Tennessee has one of the most restrictive bus driver laws in the world.
But critics say if you want more drivers, pay them more and give them health benefits.
