I am writing to formally express my ongoing concerns regarding the safety of my grandson and other students riding Bus 101, driven by Mr. Moss with Ecco Rides. For at least the past three years, we have faced repeated issues with Mr. Moss’s driving, and despite numerous complaints, little to no corrective action has been taken.

Our complaints have included:

Failure to Use Signals/Stop Signs: Mr. Moss often neglects to use his signals or stop signs when picking up or dropping off children. In some cases, he has activated signals too late or not at all, causing other drivers to make sudden stops or pass dangerously because they were unaware a child was boarding or exiting the bus.

Unsafe Driving Behavior: He has frequently made abrupt stops or completely passed our driveway, putting our grandson at risk.

Lack of Communication: On several occasions, Ecco Rides has placed my grandson and other children on a different bus without notifying parents, grandparents, or even the school. When I raised this issue with the principal at Fairview Alpha, I was informed that the school was also unaware of these changes.

I have provided Mr. Watson with videos of these incidents, including the most recent one where Mr. Moss failed to use any signals while stopping to pick up my grandson. Mr. Watson confirmed my concerns based on their GPS tracking system and mentioned that further documentation was needed to take disciplinary action.

More recently, on my way to take my grandson to school one morning last week Mr. Moss pulled out in front of me from Coulie Loop Road onto Highway 9, forcing me to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting him. I reported this to Mr. Watson via text but received no response. A few days later, Mr. Moss caused another driver to run off the road and hit a mailbox, prompting police involvement—yet no action was taken.

Though we’ve been told that Mr. Moss was required to retake a two-hour driving course, his behavior remains unchanged. This raises serious concerns that eventually, a child or another driver could be seriously injured due to his reckless driving. Highway 9 is a busy, high-traffic area where large trucks frequently travel, making sudden stops extremely dangerous.

More recently, I noticed Mr. Moss was assigned as a substitute on the bus rather than driving. However, it’s unclear if this change is temporary or permanent, leaving us uncertain about our children’s safety.

Many other parents and guardians have also raised concerns over the years, yet Ecco Rides continues to allow an unsafe driver to transport our children. The lack of communication and meaningful action is unacceptable.

We urgently request that this matter be properly addressed to ensure the safety of all students. Many families, including ours, rely on school transportation due to work commitments and need to trust that their children are in safe hands.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this serious issue. I look forward to your prompt response and a resolution to this ongoing safety concern.

Sincerely,
Melinda Cheatwood
Grandmother of child mentioned