See what it takes to be a bus driver in Central Virginia’s school districts

OILVILLE, Va. (WRIC) -- Students heading back to class this year likely rely on a bus driver to get them there safely, so 8News went to Goochland and Chesterfield counties, as well as the City of Petersburg, to see how drivers run their routes.

Family tradition is coming full circle for Goochland High School student Samantha DiPace. Her grandmother drives a Goochland school bus, and DiPace's mother will be her bus driver for her senior year.

"I've spent more time on a bus than in car in my whole life," DiPace said.

Sometimes other drivers like John Madding are behind the wheel safely delivering 1,800 Goochland students to schools, sporting events and field trips.

"There's no room for shortcuts," Madding said. "You got to remember what you're doing. I mean, you're having to transport people's granddaughter, grandson, niece, nephew."

Madding and the county transportation team told 8News there are some challenges. In more rural areas of Central Virginia, drivers must build stamina for attention and patience.

Drivers mostly pick up and drop off students door-to-door, traveling 30 to 40 miles per route.

"The buses are really a big part of the community," DiPace said. "Since Goochland is a really spread-out place, I feel like a lot of people would have a really hard time getting to school. I alone live 30 minutes away from school."

Madding said wildlife roams narrow roads, as do other large vehicles.

"You have a dump truck or another school bus: you're going to have to slow down and figure out how each one of you is going to maneuver that pretty well," Madding said.

In urban areas like Petersburg, Richmond and parts of surrounding counties, some elements of the job remain the same, but many also face challenges on the roads and their routes.

Commuters already tend to be packed in more tightly. Then add school buses to the mix.

Chesterfield Officer Robert Cirillo says parked cars at or near stops add to the challenge.

"With more congestion on the roadway, pedestrians are likely to come out from parked cars that are sitting there on the roadway, giving, creating more of a hazard for bus drivers and commuters," Officer Cirillo said.

Also more common as you get closer to Richmond: dense apartment complexes, forcing drivers to be even more vigilant as kids board.

"There are typically a lot of people gathering in apartment complexes to be picked up at the school bus. So there's going to be the challenge of pedestrian safety as well," Officer Cirillo added.

DiPace said none of the work bus drivers do to avoid all these challenges goes unnoticed: that Goochland schools, nor her social life, would be the same without the transportation team.

"I met my best friends in elementary school riding on the bus," DiPace said. "One of them I'm still friends with to this day."