You think you’re all alone in the privacy of your car, but Don Boucher sees what you’re doing. At least, he does if you happen to be cruising the Lewiston streets during school hours.

The Lewiston veteran fireman-turned-bus driver sees a lot from his perch high above the streets. Some of it is amusing, some bewildering, and a few things — like people who don’t brake for stopped school buses — leave him fuming.

We caught up with the otherwise amiable bus driver and got a view from the driver’s seat.

How did you get into bus driving? Long story shortened: After I retired as a lieutenant from the Lewiston Fire Department in 2002, I tried several jobs, like driving a wheelchair van, working for a local motorcycle dealer maintaining their website, and selling new and used motorcycle parts on eBay. And even did a short stint as a computer support technician. None of these lasted for too long, and I was unemployed for some extended periods of time.

In the early spring of 2011, I finally saw an ad in the SunJournal by Hudson Bus Lines looking for bus drivers. “We’ll train!” the ad said. I thought, “Hey, I’ve already got my Maine CDL license and have driven beer trucks, oil delivery trucks, firetrucks, wheelchair vans, vending machine vans and more. I guess I could drive a school bus.”

So, I went to down to inquire about the details, and the manager at that time, Linda, said that they’d provide the training and also help me to get the “P” and “S” endorsements on my commercial driver’s license. As it happened, they were short drivers, so she asked if I’d drive a van down to Casco and pick up a boy from a facility there and bring him back home to Lewiston. I said, “Sure!” and off I went. Suddenly I had a job!

I worked as an aide/monitor on a minibus that spring while training in between runs. I watched many videos explaining safety procedures, requirements and policies which would be expected of a school bus driver, always stressing the safety of the students on board. It can be very stressful maneuvering a 42-foot-long bus weighing 10,000 pounds in traffic and keeping an eye on the students behind you using this long, wide rearward-facing mirror placed above the windshield.

Anyway, after completing the written exam at the DMV, I received my permit and then got to drive an actual full-sized bus. I put in several hours of on-the-road practice before I could take the school bus road test. Once I finally passed that road test in Brunswick, I was a full-fledged bus driver.

That summer I drove a minibus for Summer school, and my wife, Cheryl, was hired to ride along as my aide. That was fun and very exciting for me. Then, in the fall of 2011, I got my current full-size bus run (Run #10), which includes some rural sections like River Road, Ferry Road, Cotton Road, Dyer Road, Pinewoods Road, Apple Road and Woodhaven Drive. I get to see fields, farmland, the Androscoggin River and forests in their ever-changing seasonal wonder. You know how they say that a job isn’t work if you like what you’re doing? Well, I look forward to going to work each and every day! How great is that?

What’s the funnest part? Hmmmmm . . . There’s just so many facets of this job that I truly enjoy. But if I had to choose only one, I’d have to say it’s the kids. I have two separate runs each morning and each afternoon. The first is the middle school and high school runs. These students, for the most part, are quiet and tend to talk amongst themselves. My interaction with them is cordial, but minimal at best.

However, my second run consists solely of Martel Elementary school students. These are the ones that make this job the most fun and entertaining! Not only do I get to greet them each morning and see them off each afternoon, I also get to watch them grow and evolve through the years. Even at such an early stage of their lives, they can have very different personalities and character traits. Some are shy and withdrawn while others can be extremely open and not afraid to speak their minds. I enjoy talking with them and I try to treat them individually, and as a group, with kindness, fairness and respect. They, in return, have taught me patience and have enlightened me to the way they see the world through their young eyes.

When it’s time for them to unload at Martel each morning, I enjoy seeing their faces as they start another day of learning, playing and involvement. One or two of them might stop by my driver’s seat and take the time to give me a big hug on their way out. I can’t help but think that I just might make as much difference in their young lives as they do to mine.

What’s the toughest part? The toughest part of driving the school bus is the absolute frustration I feel whenever someone drives right pass me when my red flashing lights are activated. Main, Sabattus and Lisbon streets are notorious for this egregious error in judgment! They’re either talking on the phone, texting, reading the paper, eating or drinking something. Driving should be a full-time job!

Maine state statutes say: “The operator of a vehicle on a way, in a parking area or on school property, on meeting or overtaking a school bus from either direction when the bus has stopped with its red lights flashing to receive or discharge passengers, shall stop the vehicle before reaching the school bus. The operator may not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or until signaled by the school bus operator to proceed.”

Complying with this IS NOT AN OPTION! Please people, for our kids sake, STOP!

What are some of the weird things you’ve seen from your perch? Funny that you say “perch.” One advantage a bus driver has is the increased elevation in his field of view. I don’t think the average driver really considers what a favorable seating position we have. We see EVERYTHING! From people trying to do crossword puzzles while driving, to ladies applying makeup with one hand, while at the same time holding the wheel with their knees. I’ve seen people, mostly during winter, driving along completely unaware that their long coat, fancy dress or shoulder bag is dangling out the door and dragging through the slush. Drivers have been seen speeding right through red traffic signals, failing to yield for pedestrians and disregarding the 15 mph school zone speed limits.

What do you do when you’re not driving a bus? I’m not as active as I once was, but I do enjoy doing yard work, watching sports on TV and relaxing at home, as well as hanging out around, and in, our swimming pool. On the weekends, my wife, Cheryl, and I like to take long scenic car rides to the mountains or to the coast and we enjoy trying new, out-of the-way restaurants we may find in distant locations in Maine and New Hampshire.

“I enjoy seeing their faces as they start another day of learning, playing and involvement. One or two of them might stop by my driver’s seat and take the time to give me a big hug on their way out. I can’t help but think that I just might make as much difference in their young lives as they do to mine.”