Distracted driving is an extremely serious problem plaguing our nation today. Each year, thousands of motorists are killed in accidents involving drivers who were texting, talking on the phone, or even surfing the web while behind the wheel.

Most alarmingly, even those we depend on to drive safely—people whose job involves driving—are distracted. Recently, CNN reported the disturbing story of a student who caught her bus driver texting.

In the video, the bus driver, whose face is not shown, can be shown holding the wheel with one hand and texting with the other. At one point, the driver appears to quickly grab the wheel, which may suggest that the driver allowed the bus to drift into the other lane. 

In an on-camera interview, the girls’ mother said, “And when she showed me the video, I just couldn’t believe it… That’s not safe at all. Not only are they gonna kill a driver, they’re gonna kill those children on that bus.”

The mother criticized the bus driver for her unsafe driving and expressed alarm that the person entrusted with the safety of children would put them in jeopardy.

The video was shared by local news media with the Hillsborough County School District, whose spokesman called it “troubling.” The spokesman said that the county’s policy prohibits bus drivers from texting or any cell phone use while behind the wheel. The spokesman said that the driver was pulled after the day’s route. The district is now trying to determine the appropriate action to take.

After seeing the video, many parents might consider driving their kids to school. As a parent, I encourage you to make sure that your children arrive to school safely, whether that is driving your children to school or talking with your school’s administrators about the district’s distracted driving policy.