School Bus WorkshopSchool Bus Workshop

Trooper Craig TuhyTrooper Craig Tuhy

NDHP Southwest RegionNDHP Southwest Region

IntroductionIntroduction

Transporting of Transporting of school children is a school children is a fact of life.fact of life.

All possible safety All possible safety precautions should precautions should be applied.be applied.

To be a good school To be a good school bus driver one must bus driver one must be informed.be informed.

Care & InspectionCare & Inspection

Required by the ND Department of Required by the ND Department of Transportation.Transportation.

Exterior InspectionExterior Inspection

Interior InspectionInterior Inspection

Daily Road CheckDaily Road Check

Exterior Inspection-Walk Exterior Inspection-Walk AroundAround

LightsLights MirrorsMirrors WindowsWindows Rear DoorRear Door ExhaustExhaust Fluid LeaksFluid Leaks

TiresTires WheelsWheels Under the HoodUnder the Hood

Interior InspectionInterior Inspection

LightsLights MirrorsMirrors WindowsWindows Defroster, Fan and HeaterDefroster, Fan and Heater Drivers Seat and Seat BeltDrivers Seat and Seat Belt Emergency Door and BuzzerEmergency Door and Buzzer

Interior Inspection Cont.Interior Inspection Cont.

Emergency EquipmentEmergency Equipment HornHorn Stop Control Arm and Service DoorStop Control Arm and Service Door Air Pressure and Vacuum GaugeAir Pressure and Vacuum Gauge Brake Pedal and Warning LightBrake Pedal and Warning Light Fuel GaugeFuel Gauge Oil Pressure GaugeOil Pressure Gauge Water Temperature GaugeWater Temperature Gauge

Daily Road CheckDaily Road Check

While Bus is being drivenWhile Bus is being driven

Evaluate the working condition of Evaluate the working condition of equipment that can only be checked equipment that can only be checked while the bus is in motion.while the bus is in motion.

Laws and RegulationsLaws and Regulations

Commercial Drivers QualificationsCommercial Drivers Qualifications Class Licensing SystemClass Licensing System Training Requirements and Training Requirements and

RegulationsRegulations

Driver QualificationsDriver Qualifications

NDCC 15.1-07-20NDCC 15.1-07-20

NDCC 39-06-14 or 39-06.2-09NDCC 39-06-14 or 39-06.2-09

Class A, B and C licenses qualify as Class A, B and C licenses qualify as Commercial LicensesCommercial Licenses

Endorsements/Restrictions-P EndorsementEndorsements/Restrictions-P Endorsement

Driver’s TestsDriver’s Tests

Minimum Requirements for safe drivingMinimum Requirements for safe driving Vision checkVision check Knowledge checkKnowledge check Skills testSkills test Pre-trip inspectionPre-trip inspection Basic vehicle controlBasic vehicle control On the road testOn the road test

Training ResponsibilitiesTraining Responsibilities

Attend annual training workshopAttend annual training workshop

DD-4 workshop every 5 years-new DD-4 workshop every 5 years-new drivers must attend within 1 year of drivers must attend within 1 year of employmentemployment

Other meetings called by Other meetings called by transportation supervisortransportation supervisor

Driver RegulationsDriver Regulations

Maintain good discipline among passengersMaintain good discipline among passengers Traffic laws must be obeyedTraffic laws must be obeyed Professional attitude with studentsProfessional attitude with students Drivers well groomed and neatly dressedDrivers well groomed and neatly dressed Smoking or chewing tobacco is prohibitedSmoking or chewing tobacco is prohibited No alcohol consumed by driver during or 8 No alcohol consumed by driver during or 8

hours prior to any transporting of studentshours prior to any transporting of students All vehicles used to transport students must All vehicles used to transport students must

be inspected yearly by the Highway Patrolbe inspected yearly by the Highway Patrol

Driver Regulations Cont.Driver Regulations Cont.

Drivers are responsible for notification of any Drivers are responsible for notification of any malfunction or mechanical problem with the busmalfunction or mechanical problem with the bus

All students must be accounted forAll students must be accounted for Follow bus route approved by the school boardFollow bus route approved by the school board Motorists passing a school bus with red lights on Motorists passing a school bus with red lights on

and stop arm extended should be reportedand stop arm extended should be reported Two way radio is to be used only for business Two way radio is to be used only for business

pertaining to transporting of studentspertaining to transporting of students

Driver Regulations Cont.Driver Regulations Cont.

Accidents involving a school bus must be Accidents involving a school bus must be reported immediatelyreported immediately

Only qualified, trained and licensed substitute Only qualified, trained and licensed substitute drivers should be useddrivers should be used

Drivers responsibility to keep bus cleanDrivers responsibility to keep bus clean Detailed reports must be submitted daily Detailed reports must be submitted daily

showing the number of students transportedshowing the number of students transported Students only dropped off at designated Students only dropped off at designated

stops unless authorized by parents or schoolstops unless authorized by parents or school

School Bus RegulationsSchool Bus Regulations

All seats must be forward facing-unless All seats must be forward facing-unless transporting handicapped passengerstransporting handicapped passengers

The School Board must have corrections made The School Board must have corrections made on district-owned buses as specified by the on district-owned buses as specified by the Highway PatrolHighway Patrol

All equipment should be in working condition All equipment should be in working condition as required by the North Dakota School Bus as required by the North Dakota School Bus StandardsStandards

Maximum length of school bus is 40 feetMaximum length of school bus is 40 feet Each bus must have the standard school bus Each bus must have the standard school bus

glossy yellow color on the exteriorglossy yellow color on the exterior

School Bus Regulations School Bus Regulations Cont.Cont.

““School Bus” in letters 8 inches in height School Bus” in letters 8 inches in height must be printed on the front and rear of must be printed on the front and rear of each buseach bus

A school bus may be equipped with A school bus may be equipped with studded tiresstudded tires

Bus can only tow a trailer to and from Bus can only tow a trailer to and from extracurricular activitiesextracurricular activities

Outside of rear door must display “This Outside of rear door must display “This School Bus Stops At All Railroad Crossings” School Bus Stops At All Railroad Crossings”

School Bus Regulations School Bus Regulations Cont.Cont.

The words “School Bus” must be The words “School Bus” must be covered or removed if not used for covered or removed if not used for transporting studentstransporting students

Each passenger must be comfortably Each passenger must be comfortably seatedseated

All busses put into operation after All busses put into operation after July 1, 1998 must be equipped with a July 1, 1998 must be equipped with a stop armstop arm

Fueling RestrictionsFueling Restrictions

DO NOT FUEL IF:DO NOT FUEL IF:

The engine is runningThe engine is running

The radio is transmittingThe radio is transmitting

The vehicle is close to an ignition sourceThe vehicle is close to an ignition source

Passengers are aboardPassengers are aboard

Safety Strobe LightsSafety Strobe Lights

Manufactured after July 31Manufactured after July 31stst, 1998, 1998 Must be operated whenever the bus is Must be operated whenever the bus is

being operated on a highway for the being operated on a highway for the purpose of transporting studentspurpose of transporting students

It is unlawful to operate the safety strobe It is unlawful to operate the safety strobe light when the bus is used for any other light when the bus is used for any other purposepurpose

Driving Techniques for Driving Techniques for BusesBuses

Take time necessary Take time necessary to look at to look at intersectionsintersections

Longer buses need to Longer buses need to take wider turnstake wider turns

Come to complete Come to complete stops at red lights stops at red lights and stop signsand stop signs

Slow down-don’t Slow down-don’t speedspeed

Loading & UnloadingLoading & Unloading

More children are killed getting on or More children are killed getting on or off a school bus each year than are off a school bus each year than are killed as passengers inside a buskilled as passengers inside a bus

Avoid unsafe conditions which could Avoid unsafe conditions which could result in injuries and fatalities during result in injuries and fatalities during and after loading and unloading of and after loading and unloading of studentsstudents

Approaching The StopApproaching The Stop

School Districts have established School Districts have established routesroutes

Never change location of bus stop Never change location of bus stop without written approval from officialswithout written approval from officials

Slow rate of speedSlow rate of speed Look for pedestrians and other trafficLook for pedestrians and other traffic Check all mirrorsCheck all mirrors

Approaching The Stop Cont.Approaching The Stop Cont.

Activate Amber warning lights no less Activate Amber warning lights no less than 300 feet away, no more than 500 than 300 feet away, no more than 500 feetfeet

Place in park or neutral with parking Place in park or neutral with parking brake setbrake set

Open service door slightly to activate red Open service door slightly to activate red lights when traffic is a safe distance awaylights when traffic is a safe distance away

Open service door fully when all traffic Open service door fully when all traffic has stoppedhas stopped

Passing a Stopped School Passing a Stopped School BusBus

39-10-46 (1) $50.00 fine and 6 points39-10-46 (1) $50.00 fine and 6 points Make sure that stop arm and lights are Make sure that stop arm and lights are

working properlyworking properly Try to get license plate numberTry to get license plate number Next best thing would be vehicle make, Next best thing would be vehicle make,

style, color, direction of travel, approximate style, color, direction of travel, approximate speed and description of driverspeed and description of driver

Registered owner of vehicle is responsible if Registered owner of vehicle is responsible if they will not identify who was driving the they will not identify who was driving the vehiclevehicle

LoadingLoading

Students should be waiting in designated Students should be waiting in designated locationlocation

Students should wait for drivers Students should wait for drivers permission to enter buspermission to enter bus

Keep track of who is on the busKeep track of who is on the bus Wait until students are seated and look to Wait until students are seated and look to

see if anyone is running to catch the bussee if anyone is running to catch the bus If a student is unaccounted for get out of If a student is unaccounted for get out of

the bus and look underneath the busthe bus and look underneath the bus Allow traffic to disperse before continuingAllow traffic to disperse before continuing

UnloadingUnloading

Students remain seated until told to exit Students remain seated until told to exit by driverby driver

Check mirrorsCheck mirrors Keep track of who is leaving the busKeep track of who is leaving the bus Tell students to walk away from the bus so Tell students to walk away from the bus so

you can see all the studentsyou can see all the students Make sure no one is returning to the busMake sure no one is returning to the bus Allow traffic to disperse before continuingAllow traffic to disperse before continuing

Railroad CrossingsRailroad Crossings

Approach the tracks with caution and Approach the tracks with caution and deceleratedecelerate

Activate the hazard-warning flasher Activate the hazard-warning flasher lightslights

Stop within 50 feet but no less than 15 Stop within 50 feet but no less than 15 feet of tracksfeet of tracks

Open the entrance door of busOpen the entrance door of bus Turn off radio, ask for quiet and LISTEN!Turn off radio, ask for quiet and LISTEN!

Crossings Cont.Crossings Cont.

Look in both directions for train or Look in both directions for train or signalssignals

Cross tracks in low gearCross tracks in low gear At multiple crossings, stop only at first At multiple crossings, stop only at first

tracktrack Choose an escape route in case of Choose an escape route in case of

emergencyemergency If gate comes down on bus, drive If gate comes down on bus, drive

through it and break itthrough it and break it

Special SituationsSpecial Situations

High WindsHigh Winds

Keep good gripKeep good grip

Anticipate gustsAnticipate gusts

Drive slowerDrive slower

BackingBacking

DiscouragedDiscouraged

Never back a bus Never back a bus when students are when students are outsideoutside

Increased risk of Increased risk of collision when backingcollision when backing

School Bus CrashworthinessSchool Bus Crashworthiness

8 times safer in school bus than in a 8 times safer in school bus than in a carcar

Crash rate is .2 fatalities per 100 Crash rate is .2 fatalities per 100 million road milesmillion road miles

1.5 fatalities per 100 road miles for car1.5 fatalities per 100 road miles for car Lap belts in school buses have little or Lap belts in school buses have little or

no benefit in reducing injuries on busesno benefit in reducing injuries on buses Lap and shoulder belts could provide Lap and shoulder belts could provide

some benefitsome benefit

Crashes Involving School Crashes Involving School BusesBuses

In 2006, 24 crashes involved school In 2006, 24 crashes involved school buses in North Dakotabuses in North Dakota

4 injuries and no fatalities4 injuries and no fatalities This is below the 10 year average of This is below the 10 year average of

30 school bus crashes since 199730 school bus crashes since 1997

Crash ProceduresCrash Procedures

NDCC 39-08-06 NDCC 39-08-06

The driver of any vehicle involved in The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident involving injury or death an accident involving injury or death shall immediately stop at the scene shall immediately stop at the scene of the accident or as close as of the accident or as close as possible until the requirements of possible until the requirements of law have been fulfilled law have been fulfilled

Crash Procedures Cont.Crash Procedures Cont.

The driver of any vehicle involved in an The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by any vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop at the scene person shall immediately stop at the scene or as close as possibleor as close as possible

The driver of a school bus shall notify the The driver of a school bus shall notify the Transportation Director of any accident Transportation Director of any accident which involves the school bus and which involves the school bus and complete any reports that may be requiredcomplete any reports that may be required

Crash Procedures Cont.Crash Procedures Cont.

Remain at the scene of any crash Remain at the scene of any crash until law enforcement gives until law enforcement gives permission to leavepermission to leave

Do not attempt to move injured Do not attempt to move injured people unless there is more danger people unless there is more danger in the bus than outside the busin the bus than outside the bus

What to do in case of a What to do in case of a CrashCrash

Turn off ignitionTurn off ignition Apply parking brakes if possibleApply parking brakes if possible If necessary to remove injured, do so If necessary to remove injured, do so

with extreme carewith extreme care Prevent or extinguish firesPrevent or extinguish fires Protect passengers from other traffic Protect passengers from other traffic

hazards, set out flags or reflectorshazards, set out flags or reflectors

What to do… Cont.What to do… Cont.

Give first aid to injuredGive first aid to injured Send for helpSend for help Gather information pertinent to the Gather information pertinent to the

crash such as names, license crash such as names, license numbers, location, time and datenumbers, location, time and date

Do not let students leave unless they Do not let students leave unless they require medical attention immediatelyrequire medical attention immediately

Emergency EvacuationEmergency Evacuation

When to Evacuate?When to Evacuate? Risk of staying in bus exceeds having Risk of staying in bus exceeds having

occupants on the busoccupants on the bus Examples: Fire, stalled on RR tracksExamples: Fire, stalled on RR tracks How to Evacuate?How to Evacuate? Orderly mannerOrderly manner Need a leader and a helperNeed a leader and a helper

Emergency Evacuation Emergency Evacuation Cont.Cont.

LeaderLeader will take people evacuated to a will take people evacuated to a safe locationsafe location

HelperHelper will assist getting people off of bus will assist getting people off of bus through emergency door or aisle doorthrough emergency door or aisle door

DriverDriver should have list of those on the bus should have list of those on the bus and know the number. Driver is and know the number. Driver is responsible to direct the evacuationresponsible to direct the evacuation

Emergency Evacuations Emergency Evacuations Cont.Cont.

Know your emergency exits: doors, Know your emergency exits: doors, windows, roof hatcheswindows, roof hatches

Calm and orderly fashionCalm and orderly fashion One aisle at a timeOne aisle at a time Alternating seatsAlternating seats Start from front to back or back to Start from front to back or back to

front or split depending on severity of front or split depending on severity of situationsituation

Emergency Evacuations Emergency Evacuations Cont.Cont.

Go over emergency evacuations with Go over emergency evacuations with students several times during the students several times during the school yearschool year

Practice emergency evacuations Practice emergency evacuations during the school yearduring the school year

Questions?Questions?

Have A Safe School Year!Have A Safe School Year!