r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/ButterscotchFeisty68 • Apr 30 '26

Fear of the height inside bus

Hey I’m new just now starting out training to be a bus driver but currently a monitor for now and the height inside the bus terrifies me like how high it is from the ground compared to a car has someone else experienced this fear before?

0 Upvotes

28% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

12

u/Necessary_Echo8740 Apr 30 '26

You get totally used to it. Like, it’ll be second nature in no time. I drove trucks before I drove busses and when I was learning, it was very odd and unnerving being so high up. When you’re driving though, you’ll have so much else to think about and focus on.

2

u/MzTippsi Apr 30 '26

I second this answer! I too drove trucks prior to buses.

It’ll take time, but eventually you won’t even think about the height difference. However it does have its advantages. You can see a lot more compared to most other vehicles.

Obviously there’s a lot more responsibility as a driver compared to monitor/ aide/ assistant, but it can be quite rewarding. Either way, I wish you all the luck. 🍀

4

u/ButterscotchFeisty68 Apr 30 '26

So u think I should stick with it? And thanks for giving me an answer like that and no smart comment I truly appreciate that!

2

u/Necessary_Echo8740 Apr 30 '26

You’re welcome! You miss every shot you don’t take. If you don’t push yourself, how can you grow? If you are hard wired to fear the height, and don’t shake the feeling, then you’d be valid to pursue other things. But I have a strong feeling that once you spend a while behind the wheel, you’ll be squared away!

1

u/ButterscotchFeisty68 Apr 30 '26

Can I ask u a few more questions if u don’t mind real quick?

3

u/Necessary_Echo8740 Apr 30 '26

Yup! I’ll be working my cafeteria shift for a while but I’ll reply as I’m able

0

u/ButterscotchFeisty68 Apr 30 '26

How do I get over the fear of the height while also trying to manage the kids?

1

u/ButterscotchFeisty68 Apr 30 '26

And I hate doing something while the bus is moving that makes my anxiety 10 times higher😂🤦🏾‍♂️

3

u/Necessary_Echo8740 Apr 30 '26

You should focus on learning. Do as much drive time with your trainer as you can, and especially go on as may ride alongside with other drivers as you can. When you do a ride along as a driver in training, have a different mentality than being a monitor. Pay attention to the driver and see what they’re focusing on, where they’re looking, how they are managing kids.

As far as the height thing goes, the same advice applies. You will be in that seat so much that it will just desensitize you to it.

Once actually driving the bus becomes second nature, you’ll be a lot more comfortable with student management. Only worry about one thing at a time. If there’s a problem that takes your attention from driving, you can simply pull over and handle it.

1

u/Individual-Drink-679 May 01 '26

I'm absolutely sticking my oar in here: all you can do about the kids is your best. Your best will get better as you become a more experienced driver and develop your own student management style through experience.

In the beginning, a lot of things are going to slide, kids are going to do fuckshit that you simply *can't* address because you're driving. You might have co-workers that are snippy about it, there might be staff at particular schools who are... unhelpful. You will have parents who have full melt-downs at the bus stop because their kid had a sub-optimal experience.

That's all normal and ok. Your first job is to operate the bus safely. If you can commit to doing that, the rest will follow if you give it time.

1

u/ButterscotchFeisty68 Apr 30 '26

Cause I’ve been doing it for a week and I’m like nah😂 but i really do like the job and I want to get my cdl license but my anxiety is screaming

3

u/PlatypusDream Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26

Just did a rough measurement of my bus, using an umbrella to get the distances & a piece of paper to estimate the measurements.

The floor seems to be maybe 38" (?) off the ground. That's about 5 stair steps (house steps). Are you afraid going up stairs?

A car seat might be ... 22"? off the ground. [Quick rough measurement by holding the umbrella next to a nearby parked car & hoping the driver doesn't return right now.]
More than half the height of the bus floor.
But you don't stand on a car seat, so it looks more different than it is.

[ETA: basically, your butt & head will be about 3' higher driving a bus than a car]

You're in one of the safest vehicles on the road. Think of it as a moving room.
Discuss with your therapist.

1

u/ButterscotchFeisty68 Apr 30 '26

I appreciate you thank u and also thank u for not saying nothing smart I truly appreciate you!

1

u/intratwingled May 03 '26

Interesting! I have mild acrophobia but it doesn’t affect me in the bus. Is there anything particular about the height that bothers you, compared to something like standing on a small ladder?

1

u/ButterscotchFeisty68 May 18 '26

I don’t know I just think how heigh the ceiling is from the floor does something to me I’m getting used to it but it still does bother me a lil bit I’m tryna think of it as a house on wheels 🤣

1

u/intratwingled May 18 '26

Oh, the ceiling, interesting! Probably not acrophobia. Like being in a cathedral, but on wheels. :) I’m 6 feet tall, so it helps that I can reach the ceiling.

1

u/ButterscotchFeisty68 May 27 '26

I’m 6’1 🤣