What legal duty of care do public bus operators owe to their passengers in Florida?

Under Florida common carrier law, public bus operators owe passengers the highest degree of care and diligence for their safety. Unlike ordinary motorists who must exercise reasonable care, a public transit carrier is held to an elevated legal standard from the moment a passenger boards until they safely exit the bus. This duty requires drivers to avoid reckless acceleration, maintain proper following distances, yield safely in traffic, and refrain from discharging passengers into hazardous street conditions. If a transit operator fails to adhere to this heightened standard, the governing transit entity may be liable for resulting injuries.