School Bus Driver Training

1
School Bus Driver Training

• Unit C
• Student Loading and Unloading

2
Objectives

• At the end of this session school bus operators
  will be able to
• Recognize why loading and unloading are the most
  dangerous situations when transporting students
• Know laws and regulations regarding the use of
  the eight-way light system
• Demonstrate proper loading and unloading
  procedures

3
Loading and Unloading Fatalities

• Student was waiting in his parents vehicle
  across the street from the school bus stop. As
  the school bus slowed to approach the stop with
  its amber lights flashing, the student exited his
  mothers vehicle and darted in front of an
  oncoming vehicle. The student was struck and
  killed. (6-year-old male)
• A student was waiting at his bus stop when a car
  drove up on the sidewalk striking the student
  from behind. The student was killed. (10-year-old
  male)

4
Loading and Unloading Fatalities

• A student exited the school bus and crossed the
  street. The bus driver completed student drop
  off and pulled up to make a left turn. As the
  driver was turning, the student chose to run
  toward the bus and slipped on the ice and slid
  under the bus, being run over by the left rear
  duals. (9-year-old male)

5
Loading and Unloading Fatalities

• Student was exiting her bus after dark at her bus
  stop. An oncoming vehicle failed to stop for the
  flashing school bus lights and struck her with
  the left front bumper. There was no evidence that
  the driver applied the brakes. The student died
  without regaining consciousness. (5-year-old
  female)
• Student was run over and killed by the left rear
  wheels of her school bus after she had exited the
  bus. (5-year-old female)

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Loading / Unloading Area

• Danger zones
• Tools to mitigate the danger
• Education
• Safety devices

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Danger Zone

• Area of greatest risk
• 10 ft area immediately around the bus
• Two most dangerous zones
• Just in front of bus
• Behind the bus to the buses rear wheels
• Two significant risks
• Children struck by passing motorist
• Children run over by bus

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Danger Zone
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Tools to Mitigate the Danger

• Education
• Left to the school bus driver
• Includes
• Bus stop behavior
• Boarding
• On-board behavior
• Exiting
• Safe arrival at home

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Tools to Mitigate the Danger

• Safety devices
• Eight-way light system
• Side stop sign
• Crossing arm

11
Loading / Unloading Procedures

• Load students at designated bus stops
• Students should stand 10 back from edge of
  highway
• Students should be on-time
• Dont speed to make up lost time
• Look for missing students they may be rushing
  to the bus
• SAFETY BEFORE SCHEDULE

12
Loading Procedures

• Approach and check
• Stop
• Load
• Check and proceed

13
Approach and Check

• Evaluate bus stops while slowing on approach
• Pedestrians
• Traffic
• People who do not belong
• Look for late-arriving students
• Activate amber flashing lights
• Between 150 and 300 feet before bus stop
• Brake with transmission in gear
• Check traffic
• Give care to the road surface as you approach
  students

14
Stop

• Come to a complete stop
• Apply the parking brake
• Place the transmission in neutral
• Open the front door slightly, activating red
  lights and stop arm
• Check traffic
• Open door completely

15
Load

• Teach your students not to move toward the bus
  until the bus stops and the door opens.
• Watch for illegally passing motorists!
• Students should board the bus
• Slowly
• Single file
• Using the handrail
• Count students
• Seat students according to your transportation
  companys or school districts policy

16
Seating

• Seating capacity is limited
• Passengers may not stand
• Seating charts may be helpful
• If using a seating chart, consider
• Your route
• Students medical needs
• Students ages
• Evacuation
• Need for supervision

17
Check and Proceed

• Prepare to leave
• Account for expected students
• Check all mirrors around the bus
• Shut the front door, de-activating safety devices
• Proceed to next stop
• Check mirrors
• Place transmission into gear
• Release parking brake
• Check child safety
• Re-check mirrors
• Proceed

18
Unloading Procedures

• Approach and check
• Stop
• Unload
• Check and proceed

19
Approach and Check

• Slow down in preparation for the stop
• Use mirrors to check traffic conditions
• Activate the amber flashing lights between 150
  and 300 to signal the upcoming stop to other
  road users
• Do not allow students to stand until the bus is
  fully stopped
• Check traffic to be sure the stop is safe

20
Stop

• Come to a complete stop
• Set the parking brake
• Place the transmission in neutral
• Open door slightly, activating the red lights and
  stop arm.
• Check traffic
• Open door completely

21
Unload

• Permit students to leave the bus only at assigned
  stops, unless they have written permission
• Allow students to exit
• Orderly
• Count passengers
• Observe their actions after leaving the bus to be
  sure they move away from the danger zones

22
Check and Proceed

• Check all mirrors around the bus
• Be sure students are not returning to the bus
• For traffic and pedestrians
• Shut the front door to de-activate the safety
  devices
• Proceed to the next stop
• Check mirrors
• Put the transmission in gear
• Release the parking brake
• Check child safety
• Re-check mirrors
• Proceed

WHEN IN DOUBT, CHECK IT OUT!
23
Unique Dangers of Loading and Unloading

• Dropped or forgotten objects
• Handrail dangers
• Schools (location)
• Students left on the bus

24
Enforcing the School Bus Stopping Law

• Title 75, Section 3345 of the Pennsylvania
  Vehicle Code
• On highways not separated by a physical barrier
• Traffic in all directions stops at least 10
  before bus
• Until every child has entered the bus (loading)
• Until every child has reached the sidewalk or
  side of highway (unloading)
• On highways separated by a physical barrier
• Traffic in same direction stops

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Enforcing the School Bus Stopping Law
26
Enforcing the School Bus Stopping Law
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Enforcing the School Bus Stopping Law

• When a school bus is stopped at an intersection
  to load or unload students
• Vehicles approaching the intersection from any
  direction must stop
• Emergency vehicles must also stop if the red
  lights are flashing. After stopping, they may
  proceed
• Only after exercising due diligence and caution
  for the safety of the students
• Only if they do not risk student safety

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Enforcing the School Bus Stopping Law
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OTHER School Buses

• When lights are flashing, STOP!
• Exception median barrier on divided highway

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Scenario 1

• A school district has a bus stop assigned to 12
  Main Street where it has been for years. This
  year, a new family at 18 Main Street insists on
  having their child wait in their driveway 3
  houses down from the existing stop.
• Since the student is in Kindergarten, the bus
  driver decides to add the extra stop since it
  will not take too much additional time.
• Is this ok?

31
Scenario 2

• Youre on your afternoon route, dropping off
  elementary school students. Its pouring rain.
  Many of your riders are out sick, so youre
  running a little early because you dont have as
  many stops to make. As you approach the next
  stop, you see the students mother one block away
  from the stop approaching with an umbrella.
  Since only her child gets off at this stop, you
  pass the designated stop and stop a block away
  where the mother is waiting with an umbrella so
  the child doesnt get soaked.
• Is this ok?