taken the unusual step of going public with the problems they have to undergo while driving the Public Transportation Board buses. They are concerned for their own safety and the safety of their passengers. We think they are quite correct.

In recent weeks the problems bus drivers experience seem to have grown in certain trouble spots about the Island. Dangerous objects are being thrown at the buses, apparently by young people.

The great danger is that these problems often occur with what are essentially school buses and one student may injure a driver, causing that driver to lose control of the bus -- thus greatly endangering other young people.

As one bus operator is quoted as saying, "Missiles have been thrown at buses for the last few weeks. We want the public to know what their children are doing.'' The truth is that a young person who injured a driver and caused a deadly crash could well be charged with manslaughter.

A glass ball was recently thrown through a bus window and fortunately hit no-one. However, another operator has been quoted as saying: "It's lucky no-one was hurt with something like this coming through the window. I am concerned about the safety of my colleagues. That marble could have hit him and he could have lost control of the bus all because of someone's stupidity.'' Drivers are there to drive the bus and get passengers safely to their destination on time. That is often a difficult job with a large vehicle on Bermuda's narrow roads. They are not wardens or the police; nor are they caretakers of students.

We can only see this as a parent problem and not as a problem which can be solved by the schools. This is not happening in schools and it is not a fun childish antic. It is extremely dangerous. Surely it is up to parents to make it very clear to their young people that they are endangering themselves and their friends and schoolmates. Maybe they have to be certain that their children are not carrying missiles.

Parents cannot afford to take chances and hope this will simply go away. The bus driver might be their relative or friend or the child injured may well be theirs. They have to support the drivers and make it very clear that people can be killed and perpetrators can wind up in jail.

Parents must recognise that they have responsibilities for the actions of their children and Bermuda can only hope that it will not take a tragedy to put a stop to this behaviour.