Story perspectives

NTSB Recommends Alcohol Detectors on School Buses After WV Crash

4/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

The National Transportation Safety Board issued its first recommendation that new school buses be equipped with alcohol detection systems that can disable the vehicle.
The recommendation follows a 2024 West Virginia crash that caused a child’s leg amputation, injured two other children, and a 2020 report documenting at least 118 bus drivers accused of drunk driving in five years.
Advocates expect pushback from bus owners who previously opposed seat-belt mandates.

1 of 1

Story summary

The National Transportation Safety Board issued its first recommendation that new school buses be equipped with alcohol detection systems that can disable the vehicle.
The recommendation follows a 2024 West Virginia crash that caused a child’s leg amputation, injured two other children, and a 2020 report documenting at least 118 bus drivers accused of drunk driving in five years.
Advocates expect pushback from bus owners who previously opposed seat-belt mandates.