I’m sitting behind the wheel of the school bus.
It’s my first time.
I’ve already done all the routes twice together with the owner, but every first route still feels strange.
It’s still early in the morning and the city is just beginning to wake up. As I wait parked at the side of the road, I take a deep breath and think about the route, the stops, the children I’ll pick up today, and the bus attendant.
From the moment I start driving, I know very well that all my senses must be focused on the road: eyes, ears, awareness…
Now the attendant has arrived — I was waiting for her while parked.
Without her, this job can’t be done.
She will fasten the children’s seatbelts,
talk to them,
keep them busy with games or questions (honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever find such a person again!),
inform the parents if we’re delayed, if needed…
That way, I can do what I must do:
drive safely and stay focused.
You have to love driving to make it your profession.
My Job and the Bus Attendant
The job of a school bus driver isn’t just driving.
It’s responsibility.
I have to keep my mind only on the road. That’s why, without the attendant, the route cannot be completed properly.
The attendant is my eyes and ears inside the vehicle:
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She gives me directions for stops and pickups.
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She communicates with parents if there is a delay.
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She is a partner and a support. Without her, nothing works as it should.
Licenses and School Vehicles
To drive a school vehicle with more than nine seats, you need a category D bus license.
In Athens, schools are served by small buses.
The streets are narrow, and a large bus often can’t fit through them.
The small school bus helps me move more easily and more safely through the neighborhoods.
My Daily Preparation
My day starts very early. At 06:00.
I arrive at the van, check the tires,
look around the vehicle for damage or anything underneath that might prevent me from pulling out,
warm up the engine, make sure I have all my documents with me, and insert the tachograph.
And I say a prayer — because you can’t be prepared for everything, and you need help from above.
To be able to cope, I make sure I get at least seven hours of sleep.
I always take something to eat with me, because exhaustion has no place in this job.
The Usual Schedule
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Morning route: picking up students from their homes.
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Midday route: taking most students back home.
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Afternoon route: for children who stay for extended school hours.
What I Face on the Road
Every day has its expected and unexpected difficulties:
Fatigue.
Open the window if you start feeling sleepy while driving, or drink something energizing — not just coffee (and keep it somewhere you don’t have to take your eyes off the road). During breaks, close your eyes for a short while… with an alarm!
Traffic.
You can’t predict it — you just deal with it and stay patient, because safety comes first, yours and everyone else’s in the vehicle.
Other drivers who aren’t paying attention.
Don’t lose your temper and don’t shout. You upset yourself, you upset everyone in the vehicle, and you lose your inner peace.
Pedestrians.
Always look a little further ahead, beyond the vehicles in front of you, and anticipate their movements… may God guide you!
Roadworks.
You slow down and wait.
The weather.
You never ignore it. It makes things harder, so you reduce speed. Safety comes first — yours and everyone else’s.
The school can wait.
All of this requires calmness and experience, which you gain over time.
You don’t pretend to be an experienced driver.
Better slow and steady.
That way, you avoid damage to the vehicle and accidents.
And I always keep in mind that I’m transporting children.
My Satisfaction
My greatest reward is seeing parents receive their children safe and happy.
Seeing my attendant happy and satisfied.
Discovering a new corner of my city that I didn’t know before…
And somewhere between routes, a warm drink at a stop is a small reward — to keep going.
From Me
Next time you see a school bus on the road, give it priority.
For us drivers, this small gesture means a lot — for safety, but also for our morale.
We do this job with responsibility and dedication.
And all we ask for is respect.
Of course, not all drivers are like this, and you might even see me overwhelmed one day…
But that’s life — not easy.
We keep going with faith that we, too, can make a difference to the people around us.
If you want, I can also:
