71 School Buses Fail in Virginia Beach Amid Freezing Temperatures

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) faced a transportation crisis Tuesday morning as 71 school buses experienced mechanical failures, including frozen doors and air leaks, amid bitterly cold temperatures. Officials reported double the usual number of bus driver callouts, compounding the delays.

Early Tuesday morning, air temperatures in the region ranged from the teens to the mid-20s, with wind chills plunging to 5-15°F. The extreme cold exacerbated mechanical issues, leaving many buses unable to start. “Today we had 35 drivers who called out sick at 5 a.m. All together we had 75 drivers out,” said a VBCPS spokesperson.

Four service trucks were dispatched to address the mechanical problems, but the district did not specify how many students were late to school as a result. The combination of driver shortages and bus malfunctions created significant disruptions for families across the city.

VBCPS officials emphasized that the cold weather played a major role in the breakdowns, with frozen doors and air leaks being the most common issues. The district has not yet announced plans to prevent similar incidents in the future.