PRIMARY DUTIES OF SCHOOL TRANSPORT DRIVERS

1/3 of all traffic fatalities are caused by drunk driver in US. According to the study prevail that American is killed by a drunk driver by every 30 minutes

The worst school bus tragedy in American history was caused by a drunk driver. The Carrollton, Kentucky crash claimed 27 lives when a drunk driver on the wrong side on an interstate struck a school bus and caught the bus on fire.

BUS TRAGEDY CAUSED BY A DRUNK DRIVER 

School bus drivers need to be able to recognize drunk drivers on the road with them. Give these drivers plenty of space.
Driver should inform the doctors, including the one administering your bus driver physical, of all your medications as well as any vitamins or supplements that you take. Read medicine literature carefully.  If it says that it might make you drowsy to should be taken while driving or operating machinery
                                                        Don’t take it and drive school bus.
Drowsiness, blurred vision, aches, nausea, and other unexpected reactions can be side effects of over-the-counter or prescribed medicines and any of these in combination can create totally unexpected effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about possible reactions to your drugs in combination. Clear any new medications though the school doctor before taking them and driving children.

A WOMEN NAME Alfred, NY Wild, drunken ride, caught on tape. Bus driver has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for being drunk behind the wheel , during the harrowing trip that was captured on the vehicle's surveillance video .There are many legal but dangers substances you should be careful about this " Drivers shall not “Drivers shall not drink any liquid that might impair the safe operation” NYS SE“Nor shall any person be permitted to drive when under the influence of any liquor or drug” NYS DOT.“No person shall consume a drug or intoxicating liquor or be under its influence within six hours” NYS DMV

HAND BOOK 

FOR 

PRIMARY DUTIES OF SCHOOL TRANSPORT DRIVERS 

Testing protocols

As a Health  safety advisor I will respect the doctors suggestions that for identification of drug habits school management can do many test prior to appoint the driver

• Implied Consent
• Split Samples
• Urine Test for drugs
• Breath test for alcohol
• Test with the period of time to time
• Student behavior problems
• Irresponsible motorists
• Difficult weather conditions
• Worrying about injuring a child
• Cliques, low morale among co-workers
• Which one stresses YOU out the most?
• School bus stressor

LIFE CAN BE STRESSFUL EVEN WHEN YOUR JOB IS GOING WELL

Make sure the driver avoid drink large quantities of liquid in order to avoid the result . Some time Driver can effect the driving due to the personal problems from what they suffering in home.It can be Family Problems , Marital tension , Financial Worries , Health Worries and Loneliness. while driving he is just thinking about the solution, what is the possible best fit they can do for the relaxation and rid off from the problem . Unfortunately its an other threat for the school children . It should be avoided in order to minimize the accident rate of school Transportation .

Focusing on safety and interacting with children is difficult when you’re stressed out, grumpy, or depressed

•          Attend to your physical being

•          Watch your driving posture

•          Walk

•          Have a hobby

•          Reach out to positive people

•          Get to know successful bus drivers

BUS YARDS DANGERS

•          Many vehicles moving

•          Buses backing

•          Employees walking

•          Yard too small?

•          Inadequate lighting?

•          Drivers doing pre-trips

•          Trip/fall hazards

•          Mechanics on buses

•          Fueling fire dangers

•          Pinch points

•          Children around?

•          Snow plows

•          Exhaust fumes*

•          Many vehicles moving around the yard at same time.

•          Buses backing – beepers become background noise and are ignored.

•          Employees walking between cars and office and buses.

•          Yard too small?

•          Inadequate lighting?

•          Drivers doing pre-trips.

•          Are there trip/fall hazards from poor yard surfaces?

•          Mechanics working on or moving buses – how do mechanics indicate that a bus is being worked on so it doesn’t get pulled out?

•          Fire dangers while fueling and congestion at fuel station at times

•          Children around?  Do bus staff children come into the lot or children walking through lot on the way to school?

•          Snow plows create seasonal dangers.

•          Exhaust fumes are a know carcinogen.  Idling must be minimized.

•          Don’t walk directly behind parked buses

•          Don’t walk while doing something else

•          Don’t move bus while distracted in any way

•          No horseplay

•          No unsupervised children

SEVEN BUS YARD DO’

1. Stay alert at all times
2. Drive slowly at all times
3. Stay visible in low light
4. Safe footwear
5. Alert others before backing
6. Secure your bus whenever you park it
7. Don’t stop your bus behind other bus

KNOW YOUR BUS YARD 

As a new driver it is important to “learn the ropes” in your organization.  Understanding the traffic flow, the fueling guidelines, parking requirements and one-ways will help you successfully negotiate this difficult territory.

• Traffic patterns?
• Speed limit?
• Entrance/exit procedures?
• Fuel station procedures?
• Maintenance bay procedures?
• Employee parking?
• Bus parking?
• Walking to/from buses?
• Unique features?

FATIGUE DANGERS FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
The need for sleep is a powerful human drive.A sleepy driver is as impaired as a drunk driver.Drowsy drivers cause as many traffic fatalities as drunk drivers.Effects of fatigue on driving mimic the effects of alcohol in many ways.Driving school bus is too demanding to attempt when less than fully alert.At a bus stop, an inability to concentrate due to fatigue could result in a tragedy.Few adults get enough sleep - most school bus drivers get up early.“Route hypnosis” can strike when you’re tired & driving the same route day after day.You cannot be forced to work when you believe that your fatigue or illness make you an unsafe driver. (V&T 509 k).

As per USA LAW

It is against the law to…

• Drive more than 10 hours in one day
• Be on duty for more than 15 hours in one day
• Drive school without       8 hours of rest
• You must…
• Have certificate on file in lieu of log
  You are exposed to illness Anyone working around children is exposed to illness Wash your hands frequently and well
• Sneeze or cough into the crook of your arm, not your hands
• Always assume that the child or fluids that you are touching are infected.
• If a child is nauseous on your bus, use a trash can with a plastic bag liner.
• Never put your hands where you can’t see.  Used needles or other infected items can be in trash cans or stuck in seat bight.

UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS

• Practice universal precautions – ALWAYS wear protective gloves around body fluids.
• Maintain a barrier between yourself and fluids in all circumstances.  The barrier can be gloves, plastic bags, masks or in a less perfect situation clothing, paper towels, or newspaper.
• If there are significant fluids, use absorbent material to control the fluids before cleaning them up.
• Grab the palm of one glove and pull it off, wadding it up in the gloved hand. 
• Slip a finger on your bare hand under the edge of the other glove and pull it off inside out with the first glove held inside.
• Dispose of all potentially contaminated waste and wash hands thoroughly.

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL

Yellow:  potential for a chemical reaction
Red:  flammability
 Blue:  health hazard
White:  special hazard (“oxy” = oxidizer, increases rate of combustion of other materials)
Severity:  0 low to 4 high

Understanding these markings would allow a driver to report the codes after a crash to assist emergency res ponders to control the scene.

MATERIAL DATA SHEET 

Two main types of hazardous materials

• Health hazards
• Physical hazards

MSDS

• Summarizes hazardous material
• Manufacturers must provide a  MSDS
• Learn where MSDS are in the      bus garage*

Two main types of hazardous materials

1. Health hazards (poisons, corrosives, irritants, carcinogens) can damage your health – exposure can occur by inhaling, ingesting, or direct contact with skin
2. Physical hazards – danger of fire or explosion

Certain information is required by OSHA to be on the MSDS.  Sections VI and VII, Health Hazard data and Precautions to be taken for safe handling and use are the ones bus drivers would be most interested in reading.

Section I IDENTITY (As Used on Label and List) Manufacturer's Name Emergency Telephone Number,   Address (Number, Street, City, State, and ZIP Code) Telephone Number for Information,  Date Prepared
Section II - Hazardous Ingredients/Identity Information Hazardous Components (Specific Chemical Identity; Common Name(s)) OSHA PEL ACGIH TLV Other Limits Recommended %(optional)
Section III - Physical/Chemical Characteristics Boiling Point   Specific Gravity (H₂O = 1), Vapor Pressure (mm Hg), Melting Point, Vapor Density (AIR = 1); Evaporation Rate; (Butyl Acetate = 1); Solubility in Water; Appearance and Odor

Section IV - Fire and Explosion Hazard Data Flash Point (Method Used) Flammable Limits LEL, UEL, Extinguishing Media, Special Fire Fighting Procedures, Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards

 Section V - Reactivity Data Stability Unstable, Conditions to Avoid, Stable, Incompatibility (Materials to Avoid), Hazardous Decomposition or Byproducts, Hazardous Polymerization May Occur, Conditions to Avoid, Will Not Occur    

Section VI - Health Hazard Data Route(s) of Entry: Inhalation? Skin? Ingestion? Health Hazards (Acute and Chronic), Carcinogenicity: NTP? IARC Monographs? OSHA Regulated?, Signs and Symptoms of Exposure, Medical Conditions, Generally Aggravated by Exposure, Emergency and First Aid Procedures

Section VII - Precautions for Safe Handling and Use Steps to Be Taken in Case Material is Released or Spilled, Waste Disposal Method, Precautions to Be taken in Handling and Storing, Other Precautions

YOUR RIGHT & RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT HAZARDS

• You must report vehicle defects you discover
• Mechanical problems must be corrected before transporting students
• You cannot be required to drive an unsafe bus
• You cannot be penalized for reporting a safety concern. Federal whistle blower protection provides you the opportunity to file a complaint. (49 CFR Section 31105)

SOME URBAN CHALLENGES
there is a massive Intense traffic on the road . People are not following the traffic rules and regulations. Roadways are constricted and congested and the aggressive behavior of taxi drivers, Bus drivers and Bike passengers. Bike passenger some time they are trying to make a separate ideal line in order to reach at time which is un-healthy both for the students and children . There is potential threat of Delivery trucks , double-parked vehicles distracted pedestrians . 
some how the international visitors they are unaware of laws because of language barrier but the driver should know how carefully tackle this situation safely 

UNIQUE FEATURES OF URBAN BUS STOPS

• Large apartment complexes
• Multilane, one-way streets
• Gangs, drug houses
• Many motorists don’t stop for school buses

RURAL CHALLENGES
Rural changes the most common threat to bus driver is intersections,turnaround, winding roads , some hilly areas , dirty and dusty road , roads in the poor conditions . The roads are under construction and narrow roads are there ,soft shoulders and some time may face difficulty of deep ditches.
Slow farm vehicles Low traffic volume leads to complacency by motorists and student passengers.
The most common hazard distance from emergency services.  A child having an allergic reaction is a major concern when medical help won’t arrive for 45 minutes. There is no wave presence for the radio range, in  remote areas cell services are also not working properly .Isolated house stops, children not out as bus arrives.Large group stops at trailer parks can be a challenge.  Parents, siblings and pets can all be present and must be accounted for.Traffic in a central village can be heavy at times, especially in the morning.  Lack of traffic control devices adds to peak traffic delays.

HIGH SPEED HIGHWAYS and  BIG TRUCKS

55 mph is the maximum for school buses with student passengers it’s a law for New York State school buses no matter what state they are driving in.Compute travel times accordingly and inform coaches/chaperones“Keeping up with the flow of traffic” is not safer.  Crash forces at 65 mph are 40% higher than those at 55 mph.  School buses are not designed for high speed maneuvering.Watch your speed on on-ramps and off-ramps  posted speeds are for cars, not buses.Slow down at toll booths and EZ Pass lanes.Take extra caution in construction zones, especially when lanes are narrowed and workers are present.  Strictly observe construction zone speed limits. Most truck drivers are safety-conscious but if you’re being “pushed” by a truck behind you, pull over in a safe place and let it pass. Keep students out of rear seats and properly seated.  High speed crashes make middle loading especially important.  School bus seats are designed to hold the student in the “compartment,” but if they are standing up or leaning into the aisle, they are not protected.Be prepared for slush/snow thrown from a passing truck.

LONG HIGHWAY TRIPS

Be prepared  get plenty of rest the night before, If it’s not “your” bus, be sure seats and mirrors are properly adjusted. Explain emergency procedures before leaving.  Some students may be walkers and not get bus safety drills. Rest break in a safe location every two hours  do a walk-around, stretch your legs.  If you get sleepy take additional breaks. safety is more important than schedule.Short conversations with passengers can help keep you alert  but distracting conversations are against the law.Work cooperatively with teachers, coaches, & chaperones  introduce yourself at the start of the trip.Remember driving hours limits. In a convoy, do not tailgate other buses.  Every driver should have and understand the directions.  Having one bus “lead” others leads to dangerous risk-taking behaviors to “keep up.”

IMPORTANCE OF PROPER BRAKING TECHNIQUE

Improper downhill braking can lead to overheated brakes and loss of control.With air brakes, improper braking can deplete the air in the system.A full load of students increases the stress on the brakes on hills.Do a conscientious pre-trip.  Check service and emergency brakes carefully before you leave the yard.Slow down before cresting the hill.  There’s not need to increase needed braking.

Observe “steep grade ahead” speed warnings for trucks they apply to buses too. Downshift  before  the grade.  If your bus has an engine brake, use it you may still need the service brake to maintain a safe speed and keep engine RPM in the safe range. Use intermittent braking to maintain a safe speed and prevent brakes from overheating.

SCHOOL BUS CHALLENGES ON HILLS

Learn the challenging hills and downgrades in your district.Take a ride with an experienced driver or a  trainer  discuss specific dangers and specific safety strategies for each hill.If you have a bus stop on a steep hill, be aware of other motorists , they might not be able to stop for your bus, especially in slippery road conditions.Learn how to start up again from a dead stop without rolling back by using your spring brake or parking brake.In slippery conditions, don’t start down or up a hill if you aren’t sure you can make it , contact base by radio to plan an alternate route.

TAKE RRX DANGERS  SERIOUSLY

The photo is from the Congers, NY bus/train collision that killed five students.  The bus was literally torn in half.Hundreds of motorists are killed every year at railroad crossings.The worst school bus accident in our state’s history was the result of a train striking a school bus. With a trainer or an experienced driver, go across every set of tracks in your district in a bus. Discuss unusual dangers and specific strategies for each crossing.

RRX SAFETY PROCEDURE PREPARE and STOP

Know the traffic situation behind your bus, begin to slow down and communicate your stop. Activate 4-way flashers to alert other motorists at the first “crossing ahead” or cross bucks sign.Turn off master flasher switch at the same time you activate 4-ways.If necessary, tap brake lights to get motorists’ attention.Open driver window, silence fans and heaters and radio (use the “noise kill” switch if you have one).Ask passengers to be quiet.Stop with or without passengers (unless traffic light at crossing is green, tracks are posted “Exempt,” or a police officer directs you across).Small school vehicles must stop too.Stop 15-50’ before closest track stop before painted stop line if there is one on the roadway.On multi lane roads, stop in right lane.Once stopped, secure your bus by putting transmission in park or in neutral and engage parking/spring brake.

RRX SAFETY PROCEDURE CHECK and GO

Once stopped and secured, open passenger door and driver’s window. Look and listen carefully – move in the driver’s seat to see around view obstructions. At multiple track crossings, check down each track.  Wait for train to clear so that you have a full view of all tracks. Make sure there’s room across the tracks for your bus to get entirely clear. Check warning lights and listen for bells or whistle , if lights start flashing, don’t try to cross. Once you’re certain no train is coming, cross quickly.With a standard transmission, don’t shift as you cross; with an automatic, leave it “D.”Leave 4-way flashers on until you have resumed normal road speed for traffic in that area.Re-arm your master flasher switch at the same time you turn off 4-ways.

INTERSECTIONS ARE DANGEROUS

Half of all traffic accidents occur in intersections.Many motorists fail to make full stops at stop signs, or accelerate for a yellow light. Pedestrians can be coming into the roadway from any direction. “Red light runners” cause many serious intersection accidents. Learn about the most dangerous intersections in your school district. Talk with experienced drivers about what they do to avoid an accident at challenging intersections in your district.

AVOID INTERSECTION ACCIDENTS

ALWAYS…
Always slow down approaching intersections, even with the right of way - slow down even more if buildings, etc. block your view
Always “cover the brake”
Always “rock before you roll” into an intersection
After the light turns green, always wait 2-3 seconds before entering an intersection

NEVER…

•          Never assume another vehicle will stop for a stop sign or a red light

•          Never accelerate for a yellow light or a stale green light

TURNAROUND SAFETY
Only use authorized turnarounds.  If you find yourself needing to make a turnaround that is not a part of your route, inform dispatch.Scan the surrounding area carefully before backing.Position your bus before backing to maximize your view of the turnaround.Pick a distinctive object along the perimeter of the turnaround - use it as a reference point as you back.Activate 4-ways and “honk and pause” before backing.Attendant or reliable student should spot from inside the bus.Back only as far as necessary to make the turn and pull back on the road.Be careful in snow – know where the edge is.Ask your supervisor, router, or trainer to go over the district’s turnarounds with you.Ride with experienced drivers to learn how they handle challenging turnarounds.

LOW VIABILITY WHITEOUTS and FOG

 Learn the areas of your district most susceptible to fog.Blizzard conditions create whiteouts.Fog is very dangerous for school buses, especially at bus stops. Start to slow and engage amber lights early at stops.Do not use your high beams , light reflects back & it’s even harder to see Activate 4-way flashers & strobe light. If visibility is zero, get off the road to a safe spot never stop in the roadway.

HEAVY RAIN HIGH WINDS

Beware of hydroplaning (losing contact with the road surface) when there are puddles in the road during or after a heavy rain.Learn which stretches of roadway are most prone to standing water. School buses can hydroplane just like cars.  To prevent hydroplaning, slow down!. Low lying areas may be prone to flooding after a heavy rain or a coastal hurricane  learn where it’s happened in the past and have alternate routes planned.Don’t try to cross a flooded road even if the water looks shallow.  The force of flowing water is immense.Trees and wires may come down in high winds.Large vehicles such as school buses can be difficult to control in high wind.Be cautious approaching bridges and open stretches of road when it’s very windy.Be aware of areas in your district where high wind can be a problem.

DIFFICULT LIGHT CONDITIONS

Transitional periods (twilight, sunrise) are especially challenging. The make your warning lights very difficult to see  assume they can’t see them.If you have a dangerous glare location on your route, talk to your supervisor about rerouting so you will travel the road in the opposite direction. If glare happens at a bus stop, have children wait well back from the road.Low contrast objects are tough to see at twilight watch out for pedestrians or joggers wearing gray.Be especially careful when turning into the sun so you will be prepared.Sun glare or headlight glare is blinding look at the side of the road.A dirty or foggy windshield (inside or out) makes glare worse.Remember, if the sun is behind you, the cars coming the other way are dealing with glare.  Also a car turning onto your street might get hit with glare.  If you are loading children, they might not see your red student flashers OR the children.

Driving a small school vehicle

LONG HIGHWAY TRIPS

Be prepared get plenty of rest the night before. If it’s not “your” bus, be sure seats and mirrors are properly adjusted. Explain emergency procedures before leaving.  Some students may be walkers and not get bus safety drills. Rest break in a safe location every two hours  do a walk-around, stretch your legs.If you get sleepy take additional breaks safety is more important than schedule.Short conversations with passengers can help keep you alert but distracting conversations are against the law.Work cooperatively with teachers, coaches, & chaperones introduce yourself at the start of the trip.Remember driving hours limits.In a convoy, do not tailgate other buses. Every driver should have and understand the directions. Having one bus “lead” others leads to dangerous risk-taking behaviors to “keep up.”

IMPORTANCE OF PROPER BRAKING TECHNIQUE

DROP OFF CONCERNS SCHOOL BUS CONCERNS  IN VANS & CARS

Improper downhill braking can lead to overheated brakes and loss of control.With air brakes and improper braking can deplete the air in the system. A full load of students increases the stress on the brakes on hills.Do a conscientious pre-trip.  

Check service and emergency brakes carefully before you leave the yard.Slow down before cresting the hill.  There’s not need to increase needed braking.Observe “steep grade ahead” speed warnings for trucks – they apply to buses too. Downshift before the grade.If your bus has an engine brake, use it – you may still need the service brake to maintain a safe speed and keep engine RPM in the safe range.Use intermittent braking to maintain a safe speed and prevent brakes from overheating.

PICK UP

Other motorist will not realize that children will be getting in and out of your vehicle.  All typical bus stop dangers remain siblings, pets, drivers on cell phones, etc.When driving a van or school car, pick up and drop off children off the roadway whenever possible.Never cross a student in a small school vehicle not equipped with student flashers.

IT’S STILL A Legally, vans and cars are school buses when transporting students to or from school or school activities.  School buses are defined by their function in Vehicle and Traffic Law, “§ 142. School bus. Every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental agency or private school and operated for the transportation of pupils, children of pupils, teachers and other persons acting in a supervisory capacity, to or from school or school activities or privately owned and operated for compensation for the transportation of pupils, children of pupils, teachers and other persons acting in a supervisory capacity to or from school or school activities.”It may “feel” just like your personal vehicle, but it’s not.All school bus laws apply – 55 mph max., no drinking/eating or right on red with students on board, no fueling with students on board, no distracting conversation with passengers.Defensive driving is MORE important in small school vehicles – they lack many safety features of full-sized school buses.

SEATING

Children over 4 years old are exempt from seat belt use in school buses as defined on prior slide.  However, because small school vehicles do not have school bus seats that are designed to be effective with or without seat belts, all vehicles without school bus seats should be used as designed, that is with seat belts for those over seven years old, car seats for those under eight and no one under 12 in the front seat.

EVACUATION CONCERN 

School vans and cars lack true emergency exits.Automatic door locks activate at low speed –someone
outside can’t get in. Rear cargo door on many vans can’t be opened from the inside. Children in back
seats may not be able to unlock their doors if the child safety lock is active. It’s difficult getting to
children in the back seats to deal with fights, medical emergencies, etc.

TYPE A” SCHOOL BUSES
A MFSAB is a vehicle that meets all the school bus requirements except color and systems to protect
the loading process.  No stop arms, student loading lights, crossing gates or school bus color.  Just
like school bus cars, these cannot be used for picking up and dropping off on the road.

NOW OUR FLEET
Talk to your trainer What types of small school vehicles are in your fleet? Do they have any special
features you should know about?*

WHY PRE-TRIPS ARE IMPORTANT
Pre-trips are required by law, but the most important reason for doing a quality pre-trip inspection of
your bus is student safety. School buses are safe vehicles and NYS mechanics do a terrific job at
keeping them safe  few accidents are caused by mechanical failure today. NYS DOT inspects every
school bus twice a year  The slightest mechanical problem could decertify that bus.Mechanical
problems still occur ,school buses are complicated machines and machines break down. Because
school bus drivers handle the vehicle every day, they are the front line of defense to keep school
buses running strong.

YOUR CDL IS ONLY A STARTING POINT

The vehicle inspection you were required to demonstrate to pass your CDL road test was not a
complete, professional pre-trip.Because of time constraints and safety concerns, CDL road test pre
trips do not include many critical safety items you must check every day once you begin transporting
students. Wear shoes w/good tread , avoid slips & falls.Avoid long drawstrings or jewelry that could
get caught on bus equipment.Be aware of buses next to yours as you do your pre-trip, stand back if
they’re leaving their parking space.Watch sharp edges on the stop arm , don’t bump your head on
it.

Don’t fall out the emergency door!Be careful if required to check under the hood ,don’t let hood

slam down on you.

MODEL SCHOOL BUS PRE-TRIP
The following slides walk through the 9-step process of the New York Education Department Pre
trip.  You can teach it in the classroom, and then go outside, or if you only have a few drivers, you
can just all take your trainee manuals outside and walk through it with them.