guidelines Archives - trackschoolbus

Winter is the most inappropriate time for riding any sort of vehicle rather so a school bus.

For a school bus driver the safety of the students is the most important and riskiest job there is, and to carry it out on a winter surface is harder than normal.

School bus drivers should always be prepared for changing weather conditions, it’s always important to bring along additional weather gear to withstand the winter.

A few of the winter weather gear might include:

Thermals
Winter Parka
Gloves
Extra Socks
Winter Boots
Rain Slicker
Hat or Knit Cap
Rags
Flashlight
Ice Scraper

Anyone who has driven in snow knows that winter driving is difficult especially for heavy vehicle drivers. Driving a school bus in snow requires a special set of skills to ensure the safety of the students.

Here are few tips for school bus drivers on how to safely drive the bus on winter conditions

1.Plan Early

Don’t wait until winter hits you, take counter measures before hand. Weather conditions can go from mild to harsh in an instant so it’s better to be ready for the winter which is eventually coming. Take up safety measures which include

Establishing earlier start times and take alternate routes that is much safer from the rash weather
Ensure a stable communication channel with the faculty
Conduct a manual check-up for the school buses prior to the winter season ensuring that the vehicle is in tact

2. Train the Drivers

Winter road conditions are not at all similar to normal driving conditions, covered by thick snow the roads will be slick and slippery, the driving rules installed by the transportation ministry would not be enough in keeping the school bus safe.

Therefore school bus drivers should go through a specialized winter training course.

The driver training should consist of
Importance of increasing the following distance from a vehicle
The relevance of reducing the speed
Importance of slow acceleration, steering, and braking
Allowing longer stopping distance

3. Winterize the School Buses

The school buses should be equipped to counter the winter season prior to the start of the season.

The school bus drivers should understand the limitations of their vehicle and must keep regular maintenance of the school bus.

Here are a few tips school bus drivers should keep in mind while winter proofing the school bus

All the batteries should be tested prior to the season
Switch to winter tires or assure that all tires have sufficient tread
Install antifreeze brake line
Introduce new windshield and wipers for the snowy weather
Cross check every switches and light to make sure they are functional
Introduce anti-fog product on interior glass and to reduce the adhesion of snow and ice use rain repellent material on the outside glasses
To provide emergency traction, the school buses at all time during the winter season should contain an oil absorbent or kitty litter

You don’t know what to expect during the harsh weather, sometimes even skilled driving would not be enough. Following are some additional Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind

Be Cautious

Be extra cautious around bus stops, school zones and at bus loading and unloading areas where there exist a huge chance of high snow banks.

Slow Down, Don’t hurry

In harsh winter conditions don’t hurry, at these times the safety of the students must come above everything including staying on schedule.

Anticipate the road conditions

During winter the roads will be poor and dangerous so it’s better to keep a healthy distance between the vehicles and other objects in front of you, so that you could react to any unwanted instances en-route.

Don’t take chances, Drive Safely

In intersections always, be wary of other motorist and if you feel any sort of concern to move forward don’t, sometimes it’s better to take no road at all.

Be winter proof

Wear winter hats, boots, and clothing that will keep you warm. Rather than the harsh weather, there should not stand any discomfort for you while driving.

Use of Headlights

Countless accidents have occurred because drivers were surprised by a vehicle which they did not see until it was too late.

During inclement weather conditions like rain, sleet, snow, and hail you should turn on your headlights so others can see you.

In fact, any sort of weather condition which causes vision impairment is enough to turn your headlights on while driving.

Clear your bus off from Ice

Before you start the vehicle, be sure to wipe out every chunk of snow and ice from the windows, mirrors, headlights and make sure that the vehicle is visible to others.

Under normal driving conditions dealing with traffic, stopping, turning, maintaining the legal speed limit can all be controlled by using good driving techniques.

But when you come up against roads covered with snow and ice the entire dynamic changes.

In extreme winter circumstances despite the incredible dangers presented by the slick surface, drivers must exercise great caution and practice the above mention tips to ensure the safety of the vehicle and students.

Parents and school authorities unanimously agree to the fact that a background check of the school bus drivers is essential before they are allowed to drive a school bus. Per year an average of 22,000 school bus accidents happen in a year.

This amounts to almost 60 school bus accidents that happen each day in the United States. The requirements to take charge as a school bus driver changes from state to state.

Although, it is necessary to have a school diploma and a commercial driving license to apply for the post of a school bus driver. Schools rely upon school buses to transport students for after school programs.

These are not necessarily the fleet of schools but also private transportation companies who run after school activity programs.

Present Scenario

Outside companies are given contracts for bus services by a majority of district schools across the country. It is still unclear as to who is responsible for conducting a thorough background check of the drivers who are assigned to drive a school bus.

There is no hard and fast rule to determine the authenticity of a driver and his previous records.

There is the Safety of Our School Children Act that makes it mandatory for school and educational institutions to obtain a background check by FBI on drivers before employing them or offering them a job as a school bus driver.

The bill prohibits district schools and other educational authorities to hire bus drivers or other employees if they have convicted of a felony like a crime of violence or drunken driving.

But FBI fingerprint check is not sufficient and chances are rare that the bill in enacted. There are chances that applicants put wrong information on their resumes and exaggerate their qualifications while appearing for an interview.

The Concern

Parents worry about their children when they leave for school and from school. It is quite natural for them to be concerned about their kids.

When you wave goodbye to your children while they leave for school your concerns are whether your kid has reached school safely, has your child had eaten lunch, are they being bullied at school, have they boarded the bus back home, etc.

One of the biggest issues parents come across is if the bus driver is driving the vehicle safely. It must be ensured that the driver mustn’t have any criminal records and is not driving the vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

There is a difference between commercial truck drivers and school bus drivers. Commercial truck drivers who operate across states are required to follow many federal safety rules as they take routes across state lines which a very few school buses travel interstate.

School bus drivers are to take up a commercial driver's license. Because of this drivers who don't qualify for a job working for large commercial transportation companies are still eligible to drive a school bus.

Truck drivers are often regulated and monitored not just for driving related of criminal offenses but also for medical conditions that may inhibit their ability to drive a commercial vehicle.

So it is important to check the background of a driver to make sure that he is driving the school bus safely.

How to Ensure an Effective Screening Program

So as we know that a real good screening program is essential to find a driver with whom we can entrust our children the question arises how we can do that. Let us find out how we can make sure that the screening program is effective.

The driver's security must be checked in the first phase where he must possess the motor vehicles reports. If he is a truck driver his work history database must be checked.

Along with this the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) is a system which records all the reports of the driver.

There is the Social Security number Trace which can help to trace the reports names and addresses associated with a particular Social Security Number.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation that regulates the trucking industry. Truck driver's history can be obtained from the agency's database.

Once the first phase of screening is complete organizations may want to conduct further research on the candidates. The criminal record search may be conducted in compliance with the state or country which can reveal any criminal records of the driver.

Drug or alcohol history verifications from the past employers can be done to verify any discrepancies.

The final phase will include the physical examination of the candidate so as to ensure the health condition. To add up to this pre-employment drug test can also be engaged to find out if the driver has been intoxicated in the recent past.

Tag: guidelines

Winter School Bus Driving Guidelines And Tips

1.Plan Early

2. Train the Drivers

3. Winterize the School Buses

Hiring School Bus Driver – Important Guidelines to Follow