Rumors constantly swirl around campus about bus-related accidents.

But is there a real problem with transit at the University?

Not really, according to Ron Hamlin, manager of Campus Transit.

“We’ve had four bus-related accidents this year,” Hamlin said in a telephone interview Friday. “All were not the bus’s fault.”

He said four accidents is about average for Campus Transit, and is no more than the usual amount it has by this time each year.

Drivers are required to go through three months of training before they can drive on “live routes” by themselves.

Training includes getting a commercial driver’s license, customer service training, pedestrian awareness and training on a circuit at the off-campus facility.

“We can train almost anyone to drive a bus,” Hamlin said.

However, the driver must have an ability to avoid distractions while driving. Drivers must also have a safe driving record and one year of experience on campus.

Buses are 40 feet long and weigh about 26,000 pounds, Hamlin said.

In contrast, the Honda Accord is just 16.2 feet and weighs about 3,200 pounds.

“It’s unusual to control at first, but it’s easy after a while,” said Evan Smiles, a junior from Stuart, Fla., who has been a bus driver for a year.

“The most annoying thing is cars cutting me off,” said Smiles, adding he has never been in a bus-related accident.

“The biggest issue is pedestrians with too many distractions,” said Hamlin.

“Everyday people step off curbs in front of transit.”

Hamlin said when students use their iPods and text, they are not fully aware of their surroundings.

He said Campus Transit often receives complaints from students being left behind at the bus stop.

“We get complaints about people at back doors,” Hamlin said.

Though the bus has numerous mirrors, it has blind spots at the outside of the back doors, which is why sometimes drivers may leave a stop as people are running toward the bus.

The University’s Campus Transit is one of the safest systems in the nation, according to its Web site.

To stay safe, Hamlin advises people to stay away from the curb when a bus pulls in, and to cross behind the bus where other vehicles can see you.

“It’s not like a school bus,” Hamlin said. “There’s no stoplight on these buses,” which means vehicles do not have to acknowledge people getting off a bus.