School Bus Archives - Page 4 of 7

8 Types of School Buses – Understanding the Classification

Posted on January 2, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

There are many types of school buses, all school buses do not look the same. Whereas some are taller, others are shorter buses. Some of the buses look like vans and some others have their front portions appear different from other buses.

However, one common characteristic that is common to all school buses is that they are coloured yellow. Some of the school buses in the warmer regions have their roofs painted white.

In spite of minor differences, all school buses have to conform to specific safety standards imposed by the federal motor vehicles department.

Basically school buses are classified into 8 different types. Read on to learn more about school buses and how they are grouped into the different classes.

1. Type A

This class of bus is further sub-divided into two other groups: Type A-1 and Type A-2. Basically, the Type –A school bus is constructed using a vehicle with a cutaway front section. The driver’s door is on the left side.

Type A-1 has a weight rating of less than 10000 lb and Type A-2 has a gross vehicle weight rating of 10000 lb or more. This is the maximum allowable weight when the bus is loaded to full capacity and includes the weight of vehicle, fuel, passengers, and all other items placed inside the bus including the spares.

One type that was introduced in the year 2004 had the rating of 14000 Lb. The bus is designed to carry more than 10 people on board.

2. Type B

This class of school bus is also designed to carry more than 10 people. The body of the bus is attached to a front-section vehicle chassis after construction. The gross weight rating is more than 10000 lb.

A section of the engine is placed beside the seat of the driver and behind the windshield. The entrance door for the students is placed behind the front side wheels of the bus.

This type of bus is less commonly seen these days. However, this type of bus is manufactured as per strict guidelines for specific requirements.

3. Type C

This type of a school bus is always considered the traditional school bus. In this conventional design, the body of the bus is on a flat chassis and the gross vehicle weight rating is over 10000 lb (typically between 23500 to 29500 lb).

The Type C bus is also designed to carry more than 10 passengers. The whole engine lies in front of the windshield. The passenger door is placed behind the front side wheels. This bus is the typical one used for transporting school students.

4. Type D

With the engine of the vehicle placed behind the windshield and just by the side of the driver’s seat, the Type D bus is designed for carrying more than 10 passengers.

This type of bus is also called the ‘forward engine (FE) bus’ or the ‘rear engine (RE) bus’ depending on where the engine is pace in an RE bus the engine is behind the rear wheels of the bus.

Also known as the ‘transit-style bus’, in this vehicle, the entrance doors through which the passengers can board are placed ahead of the front side wheels. The GVWR of the Type D bus is more than 10000 lb (typically between 25000 to 36000 lb).

5. Multifunctional Activity Bus

Any bus used by a school that is not intended for student transport need not be painted in the traditional yellow colour. These buses, however, should not ply on the regular routes that the yellow school buses take for transporting students from kindergarten to Grade 12.

They are prohibited from use as a regular transportation for students to and from school. The stop arm and flashing lights are not required to be installed in these buses.

However, all the precautionary standards to protect the bus from crashing should be present. All rash-avoidance precautions and post-crash standards and conspicuity standards should be present in the activity bus.

6. School Van

School vans are usually normal vans that have been converted into the former kind following all specifications required. Alterations that take place include cutting the roof off to make the van taller and full roll cage welding of the body of the bus.

Once these specifications are met, the van can be driven like a regular school van complying with all standards of the Motor vehicle safety department.

7. Alternate Vehicles

All alternate vehicles used in the school are made to comply with crash avoidance standards, but they do not have to meet the traffic conspicuity regulations such as the yellow colour paint and flashing lights.

8. Non-Conforming Vans

Generally used by schools to transport cargo, they are designed to carry 15 sitting passengers. These vans do not conform to the safety standards laid out for the purpose of vehicles that transport students.

Many of them lack even the basic safety standards that are laid out by the motor vehicle safety standards department.

School Bus Routing Problems – How To Tackle Them

Posted on December 31, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

The school transportation system caters to the safe transportation of students in buses to and back from school.

Though the operation of the vehicle fleet seems simple, it is complicated and requires immense efforts of the school authorities to run it smoothly. Routing of the school bus is a major factor in maintaining operational efficiency.

School buses have to be routed in an effective manner so that the students are picked up and dropped off on their respective stops.

Challenges

School bus routing is a challenge which is faced by the school administration. On one hand, the students have to be transported in minimal travel time; on the other hand, school authorities have to ensure maximum utilization of the bus, keeping the expenses to a minimum.

Schools schedule bus routes taking into consideration the number of students at different bus stops, the number of buses available, and the total travel time required to reach students to and from school.

Safe transportation of pupils is a crucial factor. The parents expect high service levels which often require more buses for smaller groups of pupils.

Simultaneously, the school has to ensure safe and short walking distances to the bus-stops and timely pickup and short travel times for students. Buses have to be routed so as to avoid circuitous routes and dangerous areas.

They have to avoid over-crowding of buses and extensive use of the fleet. The objective is to minimize total transportation costs. Providing high levels of service often end in higher expenses thus defeating the objective.

Success lies in gathering the right and accurate data and using the same to enhance the efficiency of the transportation system. Route packaging, time and capacity utilization are fundamental for arriving at an optimal solution.

Tackling Challenges: The Options Available

The increase in demand for school buses and the associated issues in routing and scheduling have led to a number of studies on school bus routing problems.

Routing is done manually by the transport staff at schools and also done using mathematical models and algorithmic derivations. Though these models have helped in reducing time and expenses, there is no single model that gives a clear-cut solution to this problem.

It is a combination of facts, assumptions and constraints of school resources that can be used to achieve the best results.

In all models, manual or otherwise, the objective of the school bus routing problem is to minimize the total travel distance or travel time, the total number of trips, total cost including purchase and operation costs. Most of the models are based on the following criteria:

Bus Stop Selection

The school decides the jurisdiction within which the school buses need to ply. Districts are divided into zones for the ease of routing. Bus stops are located considering minimal walking distance from their homes.

Students from a cluster of near-by bus stops are allocated a specific bus. Some of the stops have more students, requiring more than one bus to be assigned to the same bus-stops. Assignment of students to buses depends solely on the capacity of the buses.

Bus Routing

Identification of the best bus routes is the next step. Efficient routes for the fleet of school buses are charted out to pick up and drop students from each assigned bus stop.

This is based on the capacity of each bus and also the minimal travel time between the bus stops. The generated routes consider the start and destination points as the school and vice versa after school.

At times a single route is created through all stops. This route is then divided into feasible shorter routes, taking into consideration the bus capacity and travel time constraints.

Urban areas, where there are more pupils, will require more buses. Small buses can be routed to rural areas where the number of pupils is less but the distances are more. This will keep the operational costs low.

Bus Scheduling

Feasible bus schedules are worked out once student assignment and routing of buses are done. During scheduling, buses are assigned specific routes.

While scheduling, minimizing the travel time is of prime consideration. The drivers are given the expected travel time, i.e., time of arrival and departure from school as well as the time at each bus stop.

The main concern of school bus providers is during the ride time for students. Drivers have to be given ample training and should be familiarized with the route before they begin service. They have to be apprised of alternate routes in the event of road accidents and traffic snarls.

We thus find that school bus planning is mainly divided into routing and scheduling. These two steps are interconnected. In routing, we find the minimal number of trips often neglecting trip travel times.

When travel times are kept to a minimum in scheduling it often leads to an increase in the number of buses. A good solution would be one which minimizes total travel time and maximizes trip compatibility.

Conclusion

Assigning, routing and scheduling are interconnected and hence should be solved in an integrated manner.

Traffic congestions, accidents and bad weather cause unpredicted delays. Travel time in real-life conditions becomes uncertain.

Cost-effective solutions can be implemented in real time situations when breakdowns occur or when students shift residences or leave the school.

Why School Bus is the Safest Mode of Transportation

Posted on December 28, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

School buses are the safest means of transportation for students to get to school and back. Millions of children all around the world start and end their day with a trip on a school bus. Safety of the children on these trips is of utmost concern to both the school authorities as well as parents.

Children get to school by walking, bicycling or parents drop them or by school bus.

Comparison studies with other modes of transport conclude that school buses are seven times safer than average family cars. Studies have calculated student injury and death rates per mile and per trip. Risks of each mode of transportation have been analyzed.

The highest number of accidents and deaths were recorded where teen drivers were involved.Studies showed that the fatality rate of travelling in a vehicle driven by a teenager was 44 times more than riding on a school bus.

The second most dangerous form of transport was bicycling where serious head injuries were caused mainly because of not wearing helmets. School buses accounted for minimal accidents and student death rates.

The sheer size of the bus, its vibrant yellow color, and additional safety features like seat-belts, stop signs, big mirrors and flashing lights ensure that students are in safe hands while travelling by the school bus.

School Bus – Safety Features

The special safety features of a school bus as compared to normal passenger buses include both physical and technological changes. Some of them are listed below.

School buses worldwide are painted a bright yellow color for better visibility. The yellow color is visible even in bad weather conditions. It helps the other drivers and pedestrians to recognize the school bus and take extra caution when near them.
School buses are larger and heavier than normal passenger buses. The buses have a height which is above the top of any car. This reduces the effect of any impact on passengers due to accidents.
The first step into the bus is designed to be low and retractable. This helps the students to alight the bus with ease and reduces accidental falls.
Anti-skid flooring is provided in the buses to avoid slipping during wet weather conditions.
Strap handles are provided along the rail overhead for extra grip while moving inside the bus.
The buses are provided with stop arms that signal the traffic to come to a halt. This is an indication that students are either getting on or off the bus. Flashlights too are provided to alert the traffic at the stop.
Individual seat belts are provided on all school buses to keep children safe. In large buses these days the seats are constructed in a way that seat belts are not required.
This is called compartmentalization. Seats are structured like compartments which bend forward on impact. The bus seats are higher, thicker and wider. Metal surfaces are covered with padding. They are designed to absorb force in the event of a crash, thereby protecting the children.
First-aid kits are provided in the buses to take care of emergencies.
Speed governors are installed in school buses to limit the speed within a prescribed range. Theyact as a check on the driver, preventing him from over-speeding. Low speeds further reduce the likelihood of casualties in the event of a crash.
The GPS (Global Positioning System) in the school buses enables the driver to stay on the safest route. This is of immense help to the parents in knowing where and when the bus has reached. The school too is updated on the progress of the school bus on the designated route.
The RFID system installed on the school bus records the entry and exit of the students on the bus. The parents and school get a real-time update of where their wards are, whether they have boarded or departed from the bus. The school authorities can keep track of any missing student.
Video cameras are installed in the bus to monitor the behavior of students while riding. Speaker systems in the buses are used by the driver or school authorities to inform the students of any impending danger or traffic anomalies.
School bus drivers are hired meticulously to meet higher standards of consistency and safety as compared to other passenger vehicle drivers.
They are well experienced and mature personnel. They attend safety and first aid training workshops. Periodic medical check-ups are mandatory for drivers.
Schools conduct evacuation drills for students who use the school buses at least twice a year. Students are taught to identify emergency exits and how to open them.

Advantages:

A big school bus normally accommodates 45-50 students. This ensures a large number of cars off the road which in turn reduces pollution and traffic congestion. The new buses are fitted with the latest emission control engines which adhere to the concept of a green environment.

Breakdown of the school bus will be the responsibility of the school. They will arrange for repairs or a replacement bus so that the students can arrive in school on time.

The GPS and RFID systems help in alleviating parental stress to a large extent.

Limitations:

Like in any form of transportation, accidents are inevitable on school buses too. Children can be injured when riding the bus, getting on or off the bus, or even when standing near the bus.

Accidents while on the bus are caused due to crashes with other vehicles. These types of accidents are minimal. Considering the size of the bus, the injuries caused to students in the buses are normally confined to minor sprains, bruises, scratches, etc.

Reports and studies have shown that most accidents occur while getting off the buses. This happens when the students do not follow the rules while alighting, when they are hit by the school bus itself, or when other motorists fail to observe traffic rules.

Though compartmentalized seats provide protection in the eventof a collision, children can still be tossed around during an accident, causing injuries. Commonly, injuries are caused to the head, neck and shoulders when an accident occurs.

Seat belts do not guarantee total protection. Enforcing the use of seat belts is difficult. They require high maintenance in order to keep them clean and in good working condition. They need to be adjusted for each child. Smaller children may also require chest or lap harnesses.

Conclusion

School buses are the perfect fit for students to enjoy a safe and comfortable journey from and to the school. Statistics show that a child is 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking the school bus rather than when travelling in a car.

The student death rate is less than 1% of the total traffic fatalities. This is because the school buses are designed to be safer than other vehicles.

Children also need to be responsible enough to stay alert and aware of their surroundings to prevent accidents and injuries.Schools urge parents to teach their children to follow the safety rules and to maintain discipline while riding a bus.

What To Do With Aging School Buses

Posted on December 26, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

School buses naturally age when they have been in use for several years since the time of their manufacture. The longer the period that they have been on the roads, the greater will be their wear and tear.

Aging gives rise to maintenance issues. Weather conditions and environmental factors add to the aging of school buses.

Aging generally reduces the reliability and performance of school buses. This consequently causes an impact on the safety of students travelling by these buses.

Hence, timely upgradation of the school transportation fleet is of prime importance. Aging school buses can be repaired, refurbished, retrofitted or replaced to increase operational efficiency.

School authorities can choose the option best suited to them within the framework of their school policies and applicable rules of the local authorities.

Repairs

Repairing school buses is the first option that is available to school authorities. Before they decide on any other option, it would be wise to check if the vehicle can be put to use for some more time after doing essential repairs.

These repairs can include both breakdown and preventive maintenance. In breakdown maintenance, repairs are confined to rectifying the specific defect to make the vehicle operational again.

In preventive maintenance, the worn out part or component is repaired or replaced before it is totally damaged. This includes routine oil change, and air filter replacements; as also replacement of tires, lamps and other such components.

Starting and stopping the school buses during their daily trips cause frequent mechanical failures as the school bus ages. Frequent repairs cause the buses to remain out of operation very often.

Replacements for some of the faulty parts are hard to obtain as the model becomes outdated. Delay in procuring the replacement parts will result in an increase in repair time.

At times, the cost of replacement parts can be prohibitively high making this option unfeasible.

Hence it is suggested that major repair of aging school buses be taken up only if the school authorities face operational or fund restrictions when considering other more expensive options.

Refurbishment

Refurbishment of aging school buses means restoring the bus to its original condition and manufacturer’s standards. Performance specifications stated by the manufacturer should always be adhered to.

Refurbishment involves replacement and service of the existing body parts of the vehicle. Damaged mechanical parts are replaced, and cleaning, servicing and lubrication of parts are carried out.

The components are then tested for smooth operation and necessary adjustments are made. The seats and upholstery are refurbished. Painting of the vehicle is also done.

The advantage of this option is cost saving. Refurbishment can be done over a period of time thus deferring one-time expenditure. Refurbishment is a cheaper option when compared to the cost of a new bus.

This option has disadvantages as it is solely based on the age of the bus. Access to original performance manuals and spare parts will be severely limited.

Some of the parts may be unavailable due to non-production. The high costs of major components are a deterrent to refurbishing aging vehicles.

However, the age of the bus and degree of wear and tear are factors that influence the refurbishment decision. The cost of extending the life of the bus should be compared with the returns that can be generated from school bus operations to ascertain the viability of a refurbishment option.

Retrofitting

Retrofitting is an option that can be used to upgrade the school buses that are in a fairly good working condition and can be used for some more time.

It involves the replacement of some of the school bus parts with new and modern components. While retrofitting the buses with new technology devices, compliance with the current governmental regulations needs to be ensured.

This is done to match the performance of the bus with those that have the most recent specifications.This helps to make day-to-day operations easy.

In a mechanical retrofit, for example, a diesel engine of the aging bus may be replaced with the more recent emission-controlled version. This would reduce pollution and control emissions.

Most of the old buses would have to have air-conditioners installed due to changing climatic conditions. Child security features like higher seats, individual seat belts, stop arms and crossing gates are some of the improvements done in a retrofit.

In a technology retrofit, GPS and RFID, video cameras and music systems are added. These gadgets are of great help to both parents and school in monitoring student attendance and behaviour of students in the bus.

Retrofit enhances the safety of the school bus and increases operational efficiency. It will be cheaper to retrofit than to buy a new bus with all the latest features.

Retrofit, though a more expensive option can turn out to be cost-effective in the longer run. The choice is entirely dependent on the age of the bus. It would be wise to weigh all factors and then decide whether it would be worthwhile to spend this extra amount on an already old school bus.

Replacement

Replacement of an aging bus with a new one is suggested when the school bus has outlived its life. The operational expense of an old bus is always higher than that of a new bus.

When the repair, refurbish and retrofit options are no longer feasible, it is better to replace the aging bus with a new one.

Before embarking on buying a replacement, it would be advisable to assess the current need of the school and the existing governmental regulations.

For example, procuring a big or small bus would depend on the number of students using the bus and the route that it has to service. New features can save a lot of labor for the authorities.

Latest models use less energy and are fuel efficient. Hence, they cost less to operate. Students’ safety aspect is an essential factor to be considered.

Above all, it should ensure that the cost of the new replacement vehicle is justified by a guaranteed return on the investment.

Conclusion

Repair, refurbishment, retrofitting or replacement decision is mainly taken to upgrade the aging school bus fleet. There is no exact vehicle age when the buses can be modified or replaced.

It differs and depends on the wear and tear for each individual bus. All options are based on spending money to save money in the long run.

The decision to adopt any one of these choices should be based on the benefits derived in terms of improved student safety, operating cost efficiency and other environmental factors.

School Students Using Public Transportation – Pros and Cons

Posted on December 24, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

The decision to send our kids through public transportation (buses/trains) is, at the outset, a simple one. Most parents would, if they had infinite time and money, choose to drop them off themselves.

Sadly though, this is not the case for a large majority. With limited time and money, juggling responsibilities, they do a cost-benefit analysis. Interestingly enough, these are not the only reasons why the decision is taken.

While the alternatives to public transportation include the children cycling or walking to schools themselves, we will be primarily concerned with private cars (including carpooling) as the choice of public transportation, by default, assuming that there is some distance to be covered to reach the school.

Pros of Using Public Transportation

Minimum ambiguity, Maximum discipline

There won’t be any last minute dashes due to a parent’s hectic schedule. There is a scheduled stop at a scheduled time and the child needs to be there.

If the child doesn’t reach the stop on time, he/she will have to wait for the next bus. Through trial and error, the child knows for certain which bus she needs to catch.

A Multitude of Choices

The child has several choices for spending his/her time. From enjoying the solitude to making friends and spending time with them, to spending time reading or studying, the child makes the time of his/her own.

A Question of Friendship

Studies have shown that the adults who have close long-term friendships do better than their less social counterparts. This is especially important as the age when the child is attending middle school and/or high school is when intimate friendships are most often born.

Public transportation provides space for socialization and making friends with other children through frequent and regular interactions.

A Dollar Saved is a Dollar Earned

Several families have significant financial constraints. Public transportation is a (relatively) safe option for them to send their kids to school. This becomes even more important if their neighbours are sending their kids to the same school through the same means.

Stronger, Faster, Fitter

While this can’t be compared to children walking or cycling to school, children who travel to school via some mode of public transportation are fitter. This is shown through studies which reveal that public transit users, on average, take 30% more steps per day.

A Question of Responsibility

Children who use public transport to go to school tend to become more independent and responsible at an earlier age than their peers. While public transportation may lead to nervousness among the parents, this quickly disappears as the child learns and demonstrates responsibility.

A Benefit to Society

Apart from the increased car traffic and pollution and all the negatives that go with it, it has been seen that children who use public transit systems to get to school develop a healthy appreciation for public transport facilities.

And they have a greater tendency to use as well as support its use through adulthood. This is especially important to those areas where the public transport system is weak and needs to be strengthened.

Cons of Using Public Transportation

Safety – The Primary Concern

While there are several benefits to public transportation, it cannot be denied that there is one area where private transport trumps it; by a fair way.

And this, in the opinion of many parents, is their single most important concern. This is especially true in difficult neighbourhoods. And while using public transit is certainly safer than walking to school, it doesn’t beat the family car in this respect.

Harassment and Negative Experiences

Closely related to the above mentioned one, avoiding being bullied or harassed – and not having a proper channel to address it is an important factor for parents in choosing not to send their child through public transportation.

Children may also get traumatised by events they are not part of, but simply witness. Given these circumstances, in areas where public transportation is the only option, parents may choose to send their children to a suboptimal school as a result.

Sharing is Caring

The primary reason for preferring private transportation to public transportation is that of safety. Parents often compromise due to the difficulty in taking children to their school amidst their own hectic schedules.

This is true especially when both parents are working. This can be mitigated by carpools, where parents of different children alternate the responsibility of taking them to school.

The Hour Expands

Taking public transportation inevitably means that the child needs to spend more time in transit. From walking to their stop to wait for the bus to the longer routes (that have to be) taken by the bus; and back again while returning home.

This is more prominently seen for high schools, which are generally further away. This is a concern both with respect to time as well as safety.

Discomfort and Overcrowding

Most schools start and end around the same time. So, when a bus comes along, it is possible that it may be overcrowded. And this makes for a negative experience for the child, which they may not be able to handle. This effect is even more prominent while returning home.

Differing Standards

A study indicated that among children between the ages of 9 and 13, only 6% play outside a given week. At a time when parents are overprotective about their children, can we reasonably expect the children to be able to handle themselves in public settings?

With unfamiliar people? In a crowd? And then there’s the question of personality. Do they get anxious? Under difficult circumstances, will they be able to call the parent and communicate with them?

So there you have it. Why you should rely on public transportation for your children’s school travel. And why you shouldn’t. Priorities and personal preferences play a big role. But we hope this will help you make a more considered decision.

School Bus Accident Injuries – Who Is Responsible

Posted on December 21, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

For many reasons, school bus accident cases are complex in nature. This is because of the fact that many parties could be held responsible for your child’s injuries.

The cause of a vast majority of the bus accidents can be attributed to the negligence of the bus driver. Some examples of driver’s negligent behaviour include ignoring traffic signs and lights, speeding, talking on the cell phone while driving, and being intoxicated while driving.

Read Also : Top 5 School Bus Accident Causes

If your child’s school bus meets with an accident because of the driver’s negligence, then he/she could be held responsible. The legal doctrine allows even the employer of the bus driver can be held liable in such a situation.

Defective parts of the bus can also lead to accidents. The driver may not be at fault, but the manufacturer of the defective may be responsible.

Further, drivers of other vehicles on the road may be held liable in case of a school bus accident. Irrespective of which party is held liable, the responsibility of compensating the accident victim for the injuries sustained by him/her lies with them.

This means the liable party has to compensate the accident victim for the medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

Negligent School District

Generally, school districts own and operate school buses. This means that the school district can be held liable if a school bus meets with an accident.

However, sovereign immunity laws protect school districts as they are government bodies. In spite of the laws, the school districts can be held liable in school bus accident injury cases but the process involved is very different compared to the standard process of filing personal injury claims.

In this situation, the accident victim should file a claim against the school district instead of an insurance company. Further, the claim must be filed within a period of six months from the accident date.

Moreover, the claim should include contact information, specific accident information, a brief as to what actually happened, and the amount being claimed as compensation. It is always better to get an attorney to prepare the claim.

Read Also : How to Deal With School Bus Accident

Negligent Driver

Commonly another driver is held liable in school bus accidents. The handling of such cases is much easier compared to those involved in manufacturers or school districts.

Typically, the responsibility of compensating the victims for injuries sustained by them rests with the driver’s insurance company. However, the victim should prove that the policyholder is the culprit.

An attorney experienced in dealing with personal injury cases can help you by gathering evidence to prove that the driver is at fault.

Your attorney will also negotiate with the driver’s insurance company as such cases are most often settled outside the court through negotiations. If the insurance provider rejects negotiations, the attorney might take the case to the court.

Negligent Manufacturer

If a school bus accident happens because of a defective part, then the manufacturer is held liable. Product liability claims are complex in nature and it is highly recommended that you work with an experienced and professional personal injury attorney when filing such claims.

The attorney you are working with will conduct investigations and consult experts to provide evidence that the school bus had a defective part.

He/she will also present evidence to prove that the accident was caused by the defective part. If your attorney is successful in proving that the part was defective, the manufacturer will have to provide the compensation.

School buses are supposed to be safer than other modes of travel as far as school children are concerned. However, a number of school bus accidents are reported every year.

If your children happen to be involved in an accident, it is better that you consult a personal injury attorney and file a claim with his/her help.

7 Advantages of Having a School Bus Routing Software

Posted on December 12, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

The ultimate aim of a school transportation system is to ensure that the students come to school and get back to home in a safe manner. Technology has always helped human beings solve many of their problems since the personal computer revolution in the 1980s.

Advances in the field of wireless communication have also contributed a great deal towards developing solutions to vexing problems. Now, the software may not be able to solve all the problems, but it can definitely help schools in alleviating school bus routing challenges.

Schools can add school bus routing software module to reap a lot of benefits. Here are some of them:

Also Read : How School Bus Routing Software Enhance School Transportation

1. Cost Savings

Modern school bus routing software allows schools to save a significant amount of money across various aspects related to their bus operations. They include the following:

A substantial reduction in route sizes, theoretically to the extent of being in a position to cut an entire vehicle depending on the situation.
A great deal of savings in fuel costs across all of the school’s vehicles.
A shorter route contributes to reducing the wear and tear of the vehicles and extends their lifespan.
The collection and analysis of data at a central point enable school authorities to track and spot trends easily. This, in turn, allows them to sort out small issues such as reduced fuel efficiency. The warning signals help them to tackle the problems and devise solutions before they turn into difficult-to-handle headaches.
The driver tracking capability of the software allows schools authorities to easily identify the best and most cost-conscious drivers.

2. Planning

Another area in which the school bus routing software could make significant contributions is future planning. The integration of school bus routes into the redistricting process was generally being done as an afterthought because of the difficulty in quickly implementing large-scale changes.

Now, the availability of the school bus routing software makes it easier for the schools to manage their transportation changes up front along with the redistricting plan.

Schools can generate number of hypothetical route maps with the help of the software and identify the best routes, in line with redistricting plans, and make optimum routing recommendations in a timely manner to achieve great cost benefits.

The software helps to map the impact of changes in routes and clearly work out the costs involved. This helps the schools to choose the best routes that provide the desired cost benefits.

Similarly, the bus routing software also helps to ease the process of school closings. It has the potential to quickly redistribute the load across the remaining schools and thereby keep the costs incurred at the lowest possible levels.

3. Map Generation

It is not an easy task to draw a school bus route map by hand. Schools and districts that are not moving in tandem with technological change would have to make the concerned staff members to spend a great deal of time during their summer holidays moving strings and pushpins across maps in order to decide the best routes for the upcoming school year.

Moreover, the routes have to be changed during the midst of a semester due to the student movement.

The school bus routing software provides solutions in a matter of minutes, saving authorities months of manual work. All that the authorities have to do is feed database with the addresses of students and their needs and other required information.

The bus routing software will analyze several millions of possible routes within minutes and plot out the most optimum routes. The software can perform this analysis number of times and create hypothetical maps or optimize routes based on the school’s requirements or priorities.

4. Substitute Drivers

The requirement of substitute driver is dependent on the availability of the number of regular drivers. This is because drivers fall sick, go on a vacation, and have to deal with personal issues.

The school bus software’s optimization feature enables authorities to quickly find a substitute driver when one of the regular drivers is absent due to any of the reasons mentioned above. In this situation, the aspects to be considered are whether the driver has a license, knowledge of the routes, and experience in driving in those routes.

5. School Calendars

Timings, sessions, and holidays vary from one school to another. For example, the timings of public and private schools are not the same.

School bus routing software integrated with school calendars will be of great help in determining the best routes for specific days when only the public or schools is closed or working.

Some advantages of using the routing software in this respect would be as follows:

Identifies alternative routes depending on whether the private or public schools are working or closed.
Drivers will be informed of the routes well in advance.
Alerts can be sent to students and their parents to notify the changes instantaneously.

6. Real-time Weather Alerts

When changes in weather conditions causes damages to roads and make travelling on those roads risky, the software determines alternate routes so that students can be transported safely to and from the school.

The best part is that the software allows alerts regarding a change in route to be sent in real time, making things easy for students and their parents.

7. Driver License

School bus drivers are expected to keep their licenses valid all the time. The school bus routing software provides alerts when renewal is due for each driver as applicable. This enables authorities to avoid issues related to non-availability of drivers because of the expiry of their license validity.

Further, the software also enables driver background checks including criminal activities and child abuse, among others. Finally, the software can also be employed for implementing preventive and scheduled bus maintenance procedures so that it is possible to ensure that the buses are in good running condition.

Conclusion

This is not an exhaustive list of advantages that school bus routing software can provide. There are many other indirect benefits as well.

All said and done, the routing software is an invaluable tool for district and school administration authorities as it enables to improve operational efficiency and send customized alerts to students, and more importantly to parents so that they can safely and confidently go to and come back from their schools.

Top 5 School Bus Accident Causes

Posted on December 10, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

School buses are treated with respect and consideration everywhere.

This respect is owed to the children who are the passengers of these buses.

Despite the traffic regulations and precautions are taken, the school buses sometimes met with accidents.

The rate of accidents is fairly low as compared to other traffic accidents.

But when it happens, normally it points towards the fault of driver and vehicle.

Here are 5 causes of school bus accidents.

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1. Driver Distraction

The main distraction for the driver occurs within the bus.

The misbehavior of students on the bus can take away the driver’s attention from the road.

Students tend to be very loud and noisy.

At times, they fight and assault each other.

These types of student behaviours distracts driver while driving which might lead to accidents.

Availability of an attendant or teacher on the bus to discipline the students can help driver to a large extent.

Mobile phones are another major distraction.

Though talking on the phone while driving is a punishable offence, many drivers still use their phones.

A call may divert a driver’s attention from the road which can lead to an accident.

But if any emergency call such as call from school authorities or parents, then it would be appropriate to use the phone after the vehicle is parked aside safely.

Drivers are often seen adjusting their viewing mirrors, adjusting their seating position, etc., while on the road.

These should have been well looked into before starting the trip.

They reach out for fallen objects; even eat, drink and smoke while driving, all of which can distract their mind.

One another factor that affects driver concentration is the loud audio/video music played inside the buses.

In school buses, it is not advisable to use music systems.

Factors of distraction outside the vehicle include the disorganized traffic in urban areas, the lack of space to manoeuvre the big vehicle, lack of proper pedestrian crossings, construction sites, accidents on the route, etc.

All these divert the attention of the driver from his task of driving safely.

Bad weather conditions like heavy rain, snow or sleet also make driving difficult, especially when it is required to stop quickly and safely.

2. Driver Fatigue

Driver fatigue automatically results in negligence causing accidents, sometimes tragic.

It is not really possible to monitor whether a driver had a restful sleep or gauge his state of alertness or awareness.

There exist devices to measure a driver’s eye closure rate.

The device triggers an alarm when it observes an unfamiliar pattern.

The prohibitive cost and scarce availability of such devices make it an impractical solution.

A tired driver is incapable of checking blind spots.

He fails to observe the rules of the road.

The bad road conditions too can affect his driving.

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Getting around potholes and construction sites on his daily pickup route can be mentally exasperating.

Fatigue is also caused when the driver is under the influence of illegal substances, alcohol and even prescribed drugs.

Small quantities of each reduce the level of concentration in a person thus decreasing the reaction times.

Larger quantities often result in blurred vision too.

This impairs proper vehicle operation.

The main onus of being vigilant rests on the bus driver as he is solely responsible for the safety of the students on his bus

3. Over Speeding

Over-speeding, as we all know, can cause disasters.

A school bus driver operates on a time constraint.

Delay in picking up students and traffic snarls causes the driver to speed and keep up the time schedule.

The driver’s power of judgment gets impaired at high speeds making accidents inevitable.

School buses, these days, are fitted with speed governors which limit fuel when the vehicle reaches a predetermined speed level.

This is highly essential as it is a deterrent to over-speeding and aggressive driving.

Many cases of reckless driving and road rage end up with disastrous results.

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Aggressive driving can be curtailed by imparting adequate training to drivers inculcating in them the necessity for safety and instilling a sense of responsibility.

It would be wise to employ drivers in their middle age with more years of experience and maturity which might often be missing in young fresh drivers.

Accidents due to animals and pedestrians crossing roads can be avoided if the buses travel within a safe speed limit.

4. Condition of the Vehicle

It is imperative that the school buses are in perfect running condition at all times.

Regular maintenance is essential to ensure safe day-to-day operations.

More so because the schools resort to buy second-hand or used buses as they find it more economically viable.

Ageing of buses and faulty equipment are a cause for concern.

Lapses in maintenance often lead to the breakdown of the vehicle.

Commonly accidents are caused because of faulty brake systems or worn out treads on tires.

Ignoring defects and repairing with used/second-hand parts increases the risk of failures.

Hence it is essential to do a daily routine check of brakes, accelerator, oil pressure, tire pressure, lights, and all other factors to ensure the vehicle’s roadworthiness.

In addition to these, the latch systems for the windows and door have to be checked for proper and smooth operation.

Emergency exits have to be easily accessible.

5. Passenger Over-Crowding

Over-crowding in school buses is very common.

School authorities try to optimize their bus routes to save time and fuel.

The passengers in a bus should not be according to the seating capacity of the particular bus.

Overloading affects the stability of the vehicle.

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The adherence to safety regulations becomes impossible with a large number of students on board.

For example, the number of seat belts provided will be not sufficient in an overcrowded bus.

Students standing in the bus hamper the view of the driver.

If the driver applies the brake suddenly, the children are thrown against each other causing injuries.

An overcrowded bus with no safety precautions is a strain on the driver.

In addition to these, one of the common causes of accidents is other careless drivers on the road.

The school bus driver can keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and travel at speeds that would cause minimum damage if any accident occurs.

In short, the driver should ensure that he/she drives defensively and mindfully rather than mindlessly.

In spite of all these aspects, school buses are still considered to be the safest means of transportation for a student to and from school.

Why Should You Adopt School Bus Maintenance Software

Posted on December 7, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

Since many years school buses are considered as the safest mode of transportation for children of the age group.

These buses come in a multitude of shapes and designs and the governmental agency that is in charge of a locality has specifications regarding the age that for each of these buses to be in service.

The total maintenance cost of the buses that a school incurs depends on the size of the fleet, capacities, designs, etc.

Whatever be the number of buses that a school operates, proper tracking and sorting of information are key to efficiently manage the vehicles. However, the reality is not as simple to just sorting and tracking. School transportation operations consist of complicated operations.

Efficiency is the need of the hour

There are few schools that do not use computerization to improve their efficiency in many functional areas of the school such as fee collection, attendance management, payroll, etc. Bus fleet maintenance software can be an extension of this package.

Even if a school owns just three buses, with limited inventory, they are required to track usage of parts to study breakdown patterns, vendor price histories and warranty statuses.

Other things that need to be measured include tracking fuel usage, scheduling preventive maintenance of the buses, prepare work orders, generate purchase orders for parts and print various reports.

With computers becoming more affordable by the day, it is important that schools put them to good use and simply their jobs and improve their efficiency at the same time.

The trickiest part in finding the right software package is as every school has its own requirements and it is necessary that their selected software should meet all their requirements.

Given below are some features that authorities can look out for in school bus fleet maintenance software.

Compatibility

The software should be compatible with the fleet. It should allow for multiple shop locations and a network environment if the requirement is such.

Industry Specific

Some readymade software are meant for trucking fleets and may not suit school bus fleet requirements. Therefore, it is important to be clear about what the program does before purchase and install.

Notify Reorders

A key feature of the bus fleet maintenance program is to notify authorities when the stock reaches a low level. This enables early re-ordering from the part of the bus maintenance staff. This serves to reduce vehicle downtimes and improves operational efficiencies. Ultimately, this leads to lowered costs.

Technical Support

The cost of the software widely varies and depends on many factors. Some of them even charge an annual fee for support and upgrades. However, there should be technical support available from the creators of the software.

It may not be possible for the school authorities to load, launch and generate reports without any help from the software company. At this stage, it is a good idea to confer with other schools that use the same company’s software.

Benefits

Any school bus maintenance software helps schools (no matter what their operational size is) manage the bus fleets of any size and their preventive care. This is very essential for the proper maintenance of the vehicle.

Preventive Maintenance

The software package/ platform is usually designed to inform the users, well in advance, of the work to be done prior to the vehicles becoming unreliable in their operation.

Maintenance services for the vehicles by the different parameters such as months, days, hours, or kilometers, according to individual requirements, can also be tracked by the package.

This feature would help to identify upcoming preventive maintenance work for each of the buses in the fleet and consequently help the authorities to anticipate expenses in this regard so as to manage the costs.

Work Orders

The operators of such a package can also generate maintenance work-orders for labor assignments and cost-efficient parts.

This feature helps to track the different costs that are linked to fuel, spare parts and labor. Reports on work orders, usage of parts, and the time taken for repair by technicians help to highlight key problems and labor savings.

Inventory Tracking

Installation and use of bus fleet maintenance software warn the users well ahead when specific part’s inventory is low.

This makes inventory tracking and replenishment of spare parts more organized and therefore more sustainable. Because the inventory of spare parts is regularly tracked, it is easier to decrease unexpected expenses and manage the costs.

Fuel Summaries and Tracking

The program can be designed to notify the amount of fuel used per bus per trip (on the basis of mileage covered) and track overall fuel costs. Relevant reports can also be at the desired frequencies.

Brake and Tire Maintenance

The mileage that is recorded for a specific bus can help to track other factors such as wearing-out of brakes, tires, rotors, depth of the tread, pads, etc.

Warranty notifications

The users can be notified of the warranty status of a part that is being replaced.

Another feature that can be put to good use is being able to define many different preventive maintenance schedules for the different buses.

Conclusion

School bus maintenance operations are increasingly more data-driven than times earlier on.

Transport departments that have implemented software solutions for the maintenance of bus fleets and their operations ultimately improve on safety efficiencies, extended life of the vehicles, reduced vehicle downtime and implementation of optimal vehicle replacements.

How to Deal With School Bus Accident

Posted on November 30, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

School bus accidents do happen at times and they can happen anytime and anywhere.

In fact, hundreds of accidents are reported every year.

Statistically, school buses are safer than most of the other vehicles that ply on the road.

But still, school buses can meet with accidents which is daunting as children are involved.

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If you are a parent, you would like to know exactly what you should do if your child’s school bus met with an accident.

Read on to know more as to how you could deal with it.

School Bus Accidents – Types

Typically, parents imagine a collision when they came to know that their child’s school bus met with an accident during the journey.

Actually, collisions do happen, but other types of accidents also cause injuries to children.

These include the following:

• Falling while entering or alighting the bus

• Tripping and falling while on the bus

• Slipping and falling in the aisle (wet floors)

• A child’s backpack or clothes might get caught on the bus and he/she might be dragged as the bus is driven off

The first and foremost thing you should do is to know the details about the accident as soon as possible.

It is not wise to rely too much on the school to update you as what actually happened as they might squarely be responsible for the cause of accident.

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What Should You Do

If your child gets involved in an accident while travelling by the school bus, it is not easy to find out what actually happened if you were not there when the accident happened.

Therefore, it is crucial to take the following steps:

•First of all, ensure that your child is given medical attention immediately.

This is because their well-being is your top most priority.

•Document everything regarding the accident as quickly as you can.

It will be a good idea if you talk to other parents as well and write down all the details.

•Take photos of at least your child’s injuries if not possible to take pictures of the accident scene.

In case your child’s school bus accident case goes to trial, his/her injuries would have most likely healed by then.

This means you will not have any visual proof to provide.

• The next step is to contact a lawyer experienced in handling bus accident cases.

Strict deadlines have to be adhered to when you file a claim for personal injury compensation.

An attorney who is experienced in handling bus accident cases knows exactly what is to be done and when it has to be done.