With temperatures set to reach over 100 degrees and the heat index going even higher, there are questions about the lack of proper air conditioning on school buses. Experts say that extreme heat is more dangerous than people believe. This summer has been exceptionally hot for southern Alabama, and it has taken its toll.

Most Daphne school buses lack any air conditioning aside from a fan next to the bus driver’s seat. Many students riding do not have water, and the bus can become very hot and uncomfortable.The best way to stay cool is to sit next to an open window. Only the 44 special needs buses in Baldwin County have air conditioning while the other 220 do not.

Students seem to unanimously agree that air conditioning is needed. Hunter Cawley, a seventh grader who rides a bus with high schoolers, agreed that air conditioning is needed. “They actually have air conditioning on buses in some places,” he said. Erik Sturgis, a ninth grader, said, “School buses are way too hot and honestly we need a change. We already have heaters so why not get air conditioning? It’s quite unfair that the bus driver gets a fan, but we don’t.”

However, things appear to be going in the right direction for local school buses. Gulf Coast Media, a local newspaper group, reports that all new buses will have air conditioning. A/C installation cost is about 140,000 dollars for a regular bus and up to 160,000 dollars for a special needs bus. Getting air conditioning may take some time since only new buses will have the A/C feature, and each bus runs for about 10 years before being replaced. It is reported that only 27 of the new buses will go into use this year for regular routes.