School Bus Driver Training

1
School Bus Driver Training

• Unit G
• Fundamentals of Driving a School Bus

2
Objectives

• At the end of this session school bus operators
  will be able to
• Describe basic techniques for mechanical
  operation of a school bus
• Identify basic driving maneuvers necessary for
  navigating scenarios such as
• Railroad grade crossings
• Intersections
• Entrance and exit ramps
• Turnarounds
• Mountains
• Describe techniques for ascending and descending
  steep roadway grades

3
Topics

• Preparing to drive
• Knowing your route
• Field trip/athletic trip concerns
• Starting and operating a diesel
• Steering and turning
• Backing
• Turning around
• Stopping

4
Topics

• Overhead clearance
• Railroad grade crossings
• Drawbridges
• Entering and exiting flow of traffic
• Lanes and positioning on highway
• Mountain driving and steep downgrades

5
Types of School Buses?
Type A, involves gross weight of vehicle, many
type A are special education buses
Type B the front entrance door is located
behind the front entrance wheels.
6
Types of School Buses?
Type C, most common

• Type D, engine in front, mid, or rear
• (most cases) passenger
• door to the front of the
• right front wheel

7
What is Different About a Bus?

• Size
• Stopping distance
• Acceleration
• Wider turning radius
• Clearance differences
• Mirror reliance
• Driver position (height)

8
Lateral Clearance
9
Whats NOT Different?

• The driving task
• Three phases
• Information
• Decision
• Action

10
Preparing to Drive

• Pre-trip inspection (see Unit E)
• Drivers seat
• Seat belts
• Mirrors

11
Pre-trip Inspection

• How often?
• EVERY time
• Develop a routine
• Vehicle overview
• Engine compartment inspection
• Inside bus inspection
• Outside bus inspection (walk around)
• Brake test

12
Pre-trip Inspection

• What is the Most Important Item to Inspect?
• BRAKES

13
Secure Items Inside Vehicle

• Container
• Strap, bolts, Velcro
• Waste bucket, fire extinguisher, first aid
  kiteverything!
• A collision at 50 MPH will cause any objects
  inside the vehicle to travel at the same speed

14
Seat Adjustment

• Adjust your seat BEFORE you start driving
• Comfort
• Reach controls and pedals

15
Seat Belts

• Driver Every trip
• Lap and shoulder belts
• State law
• School bus regulations

16
Check and Adjust ALL Mirrors

• Adjust before each trip
• Adjust AFTER adjusting seat
• Minimize or eliminate blind spot
• Clean
• Refer to Unit E

17
Check and Re-check Mirrors
18
Why is This Important?
19
200 feet
At Wheel Well
20
200 Feet Back
12 Feet Out
21
Why Is This Important?
22
Reference Point Driving

• 1. Position yourself comfortably in your seat
• 2. Pick an easily observable point on the hood or
  windshield of your bus
• 3. With the help of someone outside your bus (if
  possible), on a conventional style bus, find the
  point on the ground where the edge of the hood
  lines up with the point on the ground directly in
  front of it. For a transit style bus, use some
  point on the windshield to mark your point on the
  ground in front of the bus.

23
Reference Point Driving

• 4. Once you determine this point, note it in your
  mind and remember it for future reference.
• 5. Remember to do this in your own bus, since the
  point of reference may change from bus to bus
  depending on the height of the drivers seat and
  the model of the bus.

24
Know Your Route

• Are there hazards for driving?
• Are there loading/unloading areas that are of
  concern?
• Communicate with your supervisor if there are
  concerns.

25
Field Trips/Athletic Trips

• Become familiar with the route
• Look at a map, take a map with you, ask other
  drivers that have previously made the trip
• Drive the route in a car prior to the trip, if
  possible
• Find out if there are any detours or closed roads
  
• Know where parking is and that it is secure
• Have a full tank of fuel
• Make sure you cover emergency evacuation
  procedures
• Keep aisles and exits clear
• Carry emergency phone numbers
• Know what to do and who to call in an emergency
• Communicate with the person in charge of the trip

26
Starting and Operating a Diesel

• Refer to Publication 223 Commercial Drivers
  Manual
• Learn your vehicle
• Shift gears smoothly
• Practice!

27
Diesel-powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act Act 124
Of 2008

• Diesel exhaust from school buses poses a health
  risk, particularly to children and drivers
• Buses that idle outside schools can pollute the
  air inside the school building as well as
  outdoors
• Act 124 reduced unnecessary idling
• Learn about additional, more stringent, local
  ordinances as well

28
Diesel-powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act Act 124
Of 2008

• General rule buses should be moving whenever the
  engine is on
• Turn engine off as soon as possible after
  arriving at loading or unloading areas
• Restarted only when bus is ready to depart
• Limit idling time during early AM warm up to what
  the manufacturer recommends
• Generally no more than 5 minutes

29
Diesel-powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act Act 124
Of 2008

• EXCEPTIONS
• Idling allowed 15 minutes in a continuous
  60-minute period to provide heat or air
  conditioning to students
• May idle for an unlimited amount of time when it
  is necessary to maintain a safe temperature for
  students with disabilities.

30
Pedal Misapplication

• Driver hits accelerator instead of brake
• Results can be devastating
• Become familiar with your vehicle.
• Practice operating your bus before picking up and
  dropping off students.
• Familiarity with the location of your accelerator
  and brake.
• Especially if operating a bus that is not your
  regular bus
• Start your bus only after loading is complete

31
Steering and Turning Your Bus

• Grip the wheel securely
• Hands on opposite sides of wheel
• Push-pull-method
• Hand-over-hand method
• Do NOT palm the wheel when turning
• Do NOT turn with just a finger and thumb

32
Rounding Curves

• Slow down and look ahead for the sharpest point
  in the curve.
• Brake, if necessary, before getting into the
  curve.
• For curves to the right, move as close to the
  center line as is safe, and use the width of the
  lane while rounding the curve.
• For curves to the left, enter the curve from the
  right edge of your lane.
• When you reach the midpoint of the curve, resume
  power and accelerate through the remainder of the
  curve.

33
Rounding Curves
34
Directional Signals

• Signal before turning
• At least 100 before turning when traveling at
  speeds of 35 mph or less
• At least 300 before turning when traveling at
  speeds over 35 mph
• Signal even when no other cars are around
• Turn signals do NOT give you the right to turn
• Signal when positioning your vehicle
• Know and understand hand signals

35
Left Turn Procedures

• Get into the proper lane well in advance of turn
• Give left turn signal early
• At least 100 feet away at speeds of 35 mph or
  less
• At 300 feet if travelling at speeds over 35 mph
• Reduce speed and downshift to the proper gear
  needed to execute the turn
• Check traffic conditions to front, rear, and
  sides.
• Position bus to the left edge of traffic lane
• Re-check traffic signals, signs, pedestrians, or
  vehicle for a clear right-of-way.
• Check for vehicles attempting to pass you on the
  left
• Use both outside mirrors

36
Left Turn Procedures

• If you must stop before making the turn, keep the
  front wheels straight and the brake pedal pressed
• Leave a space of a few feet between your bus and
  the vehicle in front of you
• You should be able to see the rear wheels of the
  vehicle in front of you. If not, you are too
  close.
• Check your left mirror and execute the turn
  smoothly without strain on the engine
• Enter the highway in the left-most lane available

37
Left Turn Procedures

• Steer wheels back into position do not let the
  steering wheel spin wheels back.
• After completion of turn, check that your turn
  signal is off.
• After completing a left turn onto a multilane
  highway, pick up speed and move into the right
  lane as soon as possible

38
Left Turn Procedures
39
Left hand Turn Pedestrian Exposed
S - 24
40
Left Hand Turn Pedestrian behind the Mirror
S - 25
41
Right Turn Procedures

• Get into the proper lane well in advance of turn
• Give right turn signal early
• At least 100 feet away at speeds of 35 mph or
  less
• At 300 feet if travelling at speeds over 35 mph
• Reduce speed and downshift to the proper gear
  needed to execute the turn
• Position the bus to the right edge of the traffic
  lane about 4 from the curb.
• The bus should not be far enough away from the
  curb to allow a vehicle to pass on the right
  between the bus and the curb.

42
Right Turn Procedures

• Check for traffic signals, signs, pedestrians,
  and vehicles to determine clear right-of-way.
• Check for vehicles between right side of bus and
  curb
• Use your mirrors!
• Check your right mirror and execute the turn
  smoothly without strain on the engine.
• As soon as the front wheels pass the corner, turn
  wide to the right, swinging over the center of
  the side street (if necessary) in order for the
  rear wheels to clear the curb.
• Never shift gears during a turn
• Keep an eye on the right mirror while turning
• Watch for pedestrians near the curb
• Watch out for parked cars

43
Right Turn Procedures

• Enter the right-most lane available, but leave
  enough room to make your turn.
• Steer wheels back into position do not let
  steering wheel spin back.
• Check that your turn signal is off

44
Right Turn Procedures
45
Right Hand Turn Pedestrian Behind Mirror
46
Pedestrian
Right Hand Turn
47
Backing

• What are the drivers responsibilities?
• When backing without a helper what procedures
  would you follow?
• What are the helpers responsibilities?
• Where are your blind spots?

48
Backing Crashes

• Backing is a crash cause in over 5 of crashes in
  which school buses were the prime vehicle.
• Backing collisions were 4 times as likely to
  occur in clear weather as in other weather
  conditions
• Attempting maneuvers in clear weather that they
  might avoid in less favorable conditions
• Overconfidence
• Avoid backing whenever possible!

49
Backing Techniques

• Plan!
• Keep students on bus
• Driver side backing
• Look at your path
• Back slowly and smoothly
• Back straight
• Get help, if possible (NOT A STUDENT)

50
If No Helper is Available

• Stop the bus in the correct position to back and
  activate the four-way hazard warning lights.
• If the bus does not have automatic back-up
  signals, use the horn
• Remember, approaching traffic may not know that
  you are backing
• Signal for quiet on the bus
• Using mirrors, check that the way is clear to the
  rear and sides
• Put transmission in reverse
• Using mirrors, back slowly, smoothly, and
  straight.

51
Backing with a Helper

• Agree on hand signals ahead of time, especially
  STOP
• Position helper out of travel path
• Driver must be able to see helper
• Helper must be able to see path of travel
• Back slowly
• Stop immediately if you lose sight of your helper
• If in doubt, get out and check!

52
Backing Summary

• Avoid it if possible!
• Plan
• Keep students on bus
• Driver side backing
• Look at your path
• Back slowly and smoothly
• Back straight
• Get help, if possible (NOT A STUDENT)

53
Turning Around

• Like backing, AVOID IF POSSIBLE
• Load students before
• Unload students after
• Work with your Transportation Director on routing
  issues

54
Making a Turn-Around

• Activate the four-way hazard warning lights at
  least 200 feet before your stopping point.
• Stop the bus in the proper position on the
  highway
• One full bus length ahead of the area into which
  you are backing
• Check traffic to the front and rear, as well as
  roadside obstacles such as poles, trees,
  mailboxes and culverts.
• Clearance on all sides is important
• Have traffic visibility for at least 500 in
  either direction

55
Making a Turn-Around

• Use all mirrors and look carefully in all
  directions to observe traffic and obstacles
• Back slowly and cautiously into the designated
  area
• See Backing slides
• Check traffic both ways, reenter the highway,
  deactivate the hazard warning lights, and proceed
  with extreme caution

56
Making a Turn-Around
57
Stopping

• Unit F discussed stopping requirements for buses
• Remember braking distance increases with
• Speed
• Weight
• Brake lag
• Brake sooner in a bus to stop smoothly
• Anticipate stops
• Avoid sudden stops

58
Antilock Brakes (ABS)

• ABS will
• Help prevent wheel lockup
• Help maintain control of bus
• Do not pump antilock brakes
• Will not
• Compensate for bad driving habits
• Prevent power or turning skids
• Necessarily shorten stopping distance.
• Increase or decrease ultimate stopping power
• Change the way you normally brake
• Compensate for bad brakes or poor brake
  maintenance

59
Stopping Procedures for Standard Transmission -
Low Speed Stopping Technique

• Release the accelerator and when speed decreases
  to 3 to 5 mph, press the clutch pedal
• Apply the brakes gradually by increasing pressure
• To prevent the bus from jerking, reduce the brake
  pressure slightly, but not completely just before
  coming to a stop
• Place the gear shift lever into neutral
• Release clutch and remove foot from clutch

60
Stopping Procedures for Standard Transmission -
Stopping at Speeds Greater than 10 MPH

• Release accelerator and press brake pedal
• When you reach the minimum speed for the next
  lower gear, downshift to that gear.
• Reduces buildup of heat
• Avoids excessive brake wear
• Downshifting can be very effective and smooth
• Use third gear for the slowing action in
  five-speed transmissions
• Use second gear in four-speed transmissions

61
Stopping Procedures for Standard Transmission -
Stopping on an Upgrade

• Be aware of traffic behind you
• Apply light pressure on foot brake for a smooth
  stop
• Press clutch with left foot
• Shift into neutral
• Hold bus with hand brake if necessary
• Dont use clutch as a brake
• Allow an extra safety margin of space between the
  bus and the vehicle ahead

62
Stopping Procedures for Standard Transmission -
Stopping on a Downgrade

• Downshift as necessary
• Otherwise, same as upgrade
• Snub braking discussed later

63
Overhead Clearance

• Typical school bus not more than 12 in height
• Wire clearance requirement over roadways 18
• Wire clearance requirement over driveways 15
• Be careful of low wires when turning around
• If you arent sure, go slowly and watch carefully
• Pay attention to posted vertical clearances
• Repaving or packed snow may have reduced
  clearances
• Know the height of your vehicle, including roof
  hatches and strobe lights

64
Wires and Trees
65
Wash Bays
66
Costly Damage
67
Costly Damage
68
Railroad Grade Crossings

• You MUST stop at all railroad grade crossings
• Section 3342of Title 75
• Exceptions
• Crossings controlled by a police officer or
  flagman
• Crossings regulated by a signal with a green
  light
• Any crossing marked with a tracks out of
  service sign
• A crossing marked with an exempt sign

69
Fox River Grove, IL
70
Fox River Grove, IL
71
Railroad Grade Crossing Procedures

• When approaching, activate 4-way hazard lights
• Stop between 15-50 from nearest rail
• Apply parking brake, transmission in neutral
• Open door and window
• Look and listen
• Close door
• If clear, put in gear and release parking brake
• Proceed across tracks without shifting gears
• Deactivate 4-way hazard lights after crossing
  tracks

72
Railroad Grade Crossing Procedures

• If a train is approaching
• Hold the bus in position
• Use the parking (emergency brake)
• After train passes, then proceed as described
  above
• Multi-track crossings
• Check the crossbuck for a sign indicating the
  number of tracks at the crossing if there is more
  than one.
• Make sure no train is approaching on any of the
  tracks.
• Only make one stop not one stop per track.
• After a train passes, wait until other tracks
  become visible before proceeding. A second train
  may be approaching from the opposite direction.

73
Railroad Grade Crossing Pointers

• Learn about passive and active warning devices
• Signs, signals, pavement markings
• Gates
• Audible signals
• Know the length of your bus
• Never stop and back the bus while crossing the
  tracks
• If you stall on the tracks EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY

74
Railroad Grade Crossing Pointers

• DO NOT
• Ignore a signal
• Go around a gate
• Stop vehicle on tracks
• Shift gears until you have cleared the tracks

75
This regular length bus cannot clear the tracks
when stopped in the queuing area before the white
line.
76
Tennga - TN/GAMarch 28, 2000

• 2 fatalities
• Driver didnt stop!

77
Crossing Drawbridges

• You must stop at drawbridges that do not have a
  signal or attendant
• at least 50 before the draw of the bridge
• After stopping proceed when it is safe
• Use low gear and dont shift

78
Entering the Flow of Traffic

• Turn on turn signal well before the point of
  entry
• If appropriate, stop just before the point of
  entry
• Check your mirror- all passengers are seated
• Check that no pedestrians are in bus path
• Look left and right for vehicles
• Check all mirrors for clear space around the bus
  including behind you

79
Entering the Flow of Traffic

• Yield the right-of-way to vehicles already on
  road
• Look for a suitable gap in traffic and, with
  reasonable safety, accelerate smoothly into the
  roadway as quickly as possible
• Turn off the turn signal after you are safely in
  your lane

80
Exiting the Flow of Traffic

• Turn on turn signal well before the point of exit
• Look left and right for vehicles on the road you
  will be merging onto, especially if it is a
  deceleration lane
• Check all mirrors for clear space around the bus,
  including behind you
• Decelerate smoothly
• Remember school buses will take longer to stop
• Turn off turn signal after you have safely exited

81
Entrance and Exit Ramps

• Do not proceed until you detect a gap large
  enough for accelerating and merging safely and
  smoothly
• When approaching and entering an exit ramp,
  observe the speed of traffic and adjust your
  speed appropriately
• Watch for other vehicles that may be stopped or
  waiting in line at end of exit ramp
• Be prepared to stop

82
Entrance and Exit Ramps

• Check and recheck the traffic ahead
• Use the acceleration lane to match speed with the
  main stream of traffic before entering a suitable
  gap
• Always use turn signals when merging.
• If you are entering the main roadway from an
  entrance ramp without an acceleration lane or one
  with a Stop control, stop before merging
• Observe the main stream of traffic

83
Using Lanes

• Use lane that maximizes maneuverability and
  allows you best defensive position
• Stay within one lane for normal driving
• Get the big picture of the road ahead.
• Aim high in steering
• Activate your four-way hazard warning lights when
  your speed is below the posted speed on open
  highways

84
Positioning and Using Lanes

• Use parking lane for stopping and parking only
• Where there is more than one lane for traffic in
  the same direction, travel in the right-most lane
  unless you intend to pass or turn left.
• Do not drive in the parking lane
• Use a safe following distance

85
Positioning Blind Spots

• Keep your bus where it can be seen by other
  drivers

86
Positioning Blind Spots

• The blind spot (No- Zone) danger areas around
  trucks and buses are where many crashes occur
• Do not drive along side large trucks for long
  periods.

BLIND SPOTS
87
Blind Spots

• Even if you have mirrors, look over your
  shoulders
• Leaning does not eliminate blind spots.

88
Lateral Clearance While Driving

• Keep extra space around your vehicle
• Avoid driving alongside other vehicles,
  especially large trucks
• Merging traffic
• Parked vehicles

89
Changing Lanes

• Use your turn signal
• At least 100 if you are driving less than 35 mph
• At least 300 if you are driving 35 mph or more
• Look for traffic approaching from behind you in
  the new lane.
• Check blind spots
• On multi-lane roads, look for vehicles in your
  lane and adjacent lanes about to enter the lane
  you wish to enter
• Continually check your mirrors
• Remember to disengage your turn signal

90
Being Overtaken and Passed

• Stay in right-hand lane and maintain speed
• Shadow brake pedal
• Be prepared to stop quickly
• Traffic built up behind you?
• Follow local procedures
• Allow vehicles to pass but never signal for them
  to pass
• You must be completely off roadway

91
Overtaking and Passing

• Usually unnecessary for buses to pass
• Avoid passing as much as possible
• You gain very little or nothing
• But when it is necessary, use extreme caution
• Follow procedures in Pub 117

92
Steep Downgrades

• Downshift to help control engine speed
• Test your brakes by gently applying foot brake
• Use lower gears when going downhill
• Be in the right gear before starting downhill
• May be lower gear than required to go up the hill
• Be observant
• Brakes will always heat up so go slow!
• Last resort runaway truck ramps (if available)

93
Snub Braking

• Select the right gear
• Go slow
• Apply the brakes just hard enough to feel a
  definite slowdown
• When your speed has been reduced to approximately
  5 mph below your safe speed, release the brakes
  
• When your speed has increased to your safe
  speed, repeat first two steps

94

• Safe Bus Driving Scenarios

(Apply What You Have Learned)
95
What should the school bus consider when driving
on wet roadways?
1. Can school bus see vehicle C?
Probably not, C may be in As blind spot
2. How often should school bus driver check
mirrors?
Every 5 to 8 seconds
3. What is a safe following distance for school
bus?
Over 40 mph increase following distance to more
than 6 seconds and more for wet roadways (4 sec
1 (speed) 1 (wet) 6)
96
School bus was following vehicle B in the right
lane . Vehicle B then proceeded around a double
parked van. School bus made the same maneuver and
struck vehicle C in the left lane. How could
this have been prevented?

• School bus should have increased following
  distance
• School bus should have been checking mirrors
• Vehicle C should not have been driving in
  school buss blind spot

97
School bus was traveling on the highway for a
while. He pulled into the left lane to avoid
traffic at the upcoming interchange. When merging
back to the right, Vehicle B struck school bus
in rear right panel. How could this crash have
been prevented?

• School bus should checked his right side blind
  spot before changing lanes

• When changing lanes in this scenario, the driver
  should lean in his seat to get a better view

98
School bus was stopped in a traffic queue.
Vehicle in front stalled. School bus backs up to
go around the stalled vehicle and hit Vehicle
B How could this crash have been prevented?

• School Bus should have stopped far enough behind
  the stalled vehicle to avoid backing

99
What should each vehicle consider in this
situation?
School Bus (A)
D
Vehicle B
Vehicle C
B
C
Vehicle D
A
100
Which driver is at fault for this crash?

• Ultimately, it doesnt matter!

What could the school bus have done better?

• Kept a safe cushion
• Adjusted speed
• Moved out of blind spot

How far should the school bus scan ahead ?

• 12 to 15 seconds

101
What safe driving procedures should school bus
follow ?


Scan 1 to 1-1/2 blocks ahead for pedestrians,
cars pulling out, traffic signals which may turn
red, people entering / exiting parked vehicles
Scan for drivers who may turn into your lane
while making a right turn on red
Move to left lane and increase safety cushion on
right
Communicate with horn if necessary as a warning
to pedestrians and other drivers
102
School bus was traveling through the intersection
while the traffic signal was green. Vehicle B
was making a right turn on red and was struck by
vehicle A. How could this crash have been
prevented?
103
School bus was approaching the school and driver
saw a student waiting to cross. Bus driver
stopped and waved the student across. Vehicle B
passed bus and struck the student.
What led to this situation?
What should have been done different?
104
School bus was operating at the posted speed
limit. It had been raining for about 10 minutes
when the driver went out of control and hit an
oncoming vehicle as shown. How could this have
been prevented?
105
School bus stopped to pick up a student and was
hit from behind by Vehicle B. How could this
have been prevented?
What could Vehicle B have done to be
safer? What could the school bus have done to be
safer?
106
At the start of the school year, this school bus
was at the end of its route. The driver was
about 2 miles away from the planned turnaround,
so he decided to back into a driveway to turn
around. In doing so, he knocked over a
mailbox. How could this have been prevented?

• Driver should have used regular turnaround
• Driver could have been more familiar with his
  route
• Driver could have obtained assistance with
  backing (if possible)