FILE: EDC-R
Cf: EDC
STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SAFETY REGULATIONS
The responsibility as a school bus operator is of great importance in the public school system of Louisiana. Bus operators must practice utmost caution in transporting children to and from school.
BUS OPERATIONS SAFETY REGULATIONS
Bus operators shall:
Check the condition of the bus, including brakes, steering gear, lights (if required to drive after dark), and tires before starting out.
Observe carefully all signs, signals, rules of the road, and courtesy due others. Drive on the right side of the road. Never stop on the left side of the road. When it is necessary to overtake a slow moving vehicle, be sure no third vehicle is drawing near from any direction. Never pass another vehicle on a curve or at the crest of a hill.
Never turn or swerve suddenly. Go slowly over bumps and rough places. Avoid jerky starting and sudden stopping, especially when some passengers are standing.
When carrying children, do not travel faster than 35 miles an hour on the best concrete or asphalt roads and more slowly on gravel or dirt roads or when required by crowded traffic. Observe the definite limits for different parts of your route which the school authorities have set forth.
Be sure that the door is closed at all times when the bus is in motion.
Never leave the bus while the motor is running.
Never operate with the clutch disengaged, except when coming to a stop.
Never drive backwards on the school grounds.
Never operate a school bus with a trailer attached.
Bring the bus to a stop on the right-hand side of the road before taking on or letting off children. Use flags in accordance with instructions given in Bulletin No. 1191. (Bulletin 1191 states that in discharging students from the bus who must cross the highway, the responsibility of safe crossing rests with the bus operator.)
Stop at railroad crossings, then if it is possible to see a sufficient distance up and down the tracks, proceed across; or if on the other hand the nature of the crossing is such that one cannot see far enough in one or both directions that will assure a safe crossing, one of the patrol boys should get out, go to the tracks and observe. The bus operator will cross in accordance with Louisiana law (R.S. 32:173).
Support the bus patrol boys, whose job it is to help see that all children obey the rules of safe conduct and maintain order both in going to and from the bus, boarding and alighting, and while the bus is in motion.
Transport only students; all others should have special permits.
Transport no animals, such as dogs and cats, with school children.
Permit no loaded weapon or explosive of any kind on the bus.
In case of accident or breakdown while the bus is transporting children, do not leave the bus to go to the telephone, but send two (2) of the patrol boys or other responsible children to the nearest house to telephone.
Never use tobacco in the bus and liquor at any time while on duty.
Keep the bus in excellent repair.
Carry a set of flares and a set of two (2) flags, as well as a fire extinguisher approved by the school authorities, and see that they are in working condition at all times.
Never permit children to enter or leave the bus from the rear door of the bus. This door is to be used by children only in case of emergency. The rear door should be kept closed from the inside at all times and a patrol boy should sit next to it.
Never fill the gasoline tank while there are any children in the bus or while the motor is running.
Keep the bus clean, inside and outside. Buses should receive careful sweeping daily. Wipe the upholstery with a cloth dampened with a drop or two of liquid wax daily. All windows should be cleaned before departing on route.
Loading and Unloading
The following procedures shall be used when loading and unloading:
The bus operator assumes a position behind the wheel before the first child boards and until the last child in discharged.
Red flashing warning signals must be used for loading and unloading. At no other time can these lights be used.
The bus operator will select a safe stopping point within local board guidelines, even if this requires children to walk a distance.
Buses equipped with a red four-light flashing warning system must activate the system at least 100 feet but not more that 500 feet before coming to a stop on the roadway. The light must continue flashing for children to board, alight and/or cross roadways.
Buses equipped with amber and red eight-light warning systems must activate the amber flashing lights at least 200 feet but not more that 500 feet before coming to a stop. Red flashing warning lights must be activated when the bus is stopped and must continue flashing while children board, alight, and/or cross roadways.
The bus must stop in the right traffic lane, or the local school system has the option to permit loading and unloading on the shoulder of the road when sufficient room exists on the shoulder or on adjacent state property or private property when permission can be obtained from the owner and when no children are to cross the highway to load or unload.
The bus operator must activate stop arms in accordance with state requirements.
The bus operator must ascertain that traffic has stopped and only then, open the door for entrance or exit of students.
Before crossing to the left-hand side of the road, children must walk 10 to 15 feet in front of the bus on the shoulder of the roadway, checking the traffic and then crossing. AT NO TIME SHOULD CHILDREN CROSS THE ROAD BEHIND THE SCHOOL BUS.
Emergency doors shall not be used for routine loading and unloading.
The school bus shall not be operated on school grounds except to pick up and discharge students.
Railroad Crossing
General
The operator of any school bus, with or without students shall come to a complete stop no closer than 15 feet, and within 50 feet, from the rail nearest the front of the bus.
Bus operators making stops for railroad crossings shall observe traffic. Bus speed shall be reduced far enough in advance of the stop to avoid trapping other motorists in panic stops or rear-end collisions with the bus. On multiple lane roadways, the bus should stop in the right lane whenever possible.
Turn signal lights may be operated in their hazard mode when permitted by the state statute or regulation. Except for hazard lights and brake lights, no other signals will be activated for the railroad crossing.
When the bus has stopped, the bus operator shall fully open the service door, listen and look in both directions along the track or tracks for approaching engines, trains or train cars.
For improved vision and hearing, the window at the bus operator's left should be opened, and all noisy equipment (radios, fans, etc.) should be turned off until the bus has cleared the crossing.
If the view of the track or tracks is obstructed for 1,000 feet in either direction, no portion of the bus may be driven onto the tracks until the bus operator has made certain that no train is approaching. Although railroad signals may indicate the tracks are clear, the bus operator must develop and use visual and audible senses to determine whether or not it is safe to proceed.
The school bus operator shall always drive across the tracks in an appropriate low gear and not change gears while crossing the tracks.
After a train has passed the crossing on multiple tracks, the bus operator shall not drive the bus onto any track until the bus operator is certain that no train, hidden by the first train, is approaching on an adjacent track.
Crossing Controlled by Signals
The operator of a school bus that has stopped at any railroad track or tracks at which any flashing red lights and/or bells have been activated shall not proceed across such tracks unless by authorization from a law enforcement officer or railroad flagman.
At crossings controlled by traffic signals, the bus operator shall obey the traffic signals.
Crossings Controlled by Crossing Gate or Barrier
No bus operator shall drive the bus through, around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.
The bus operator must never accept a lack of movement as an indication that the device is working or is out of order. A bus operator must always consider a railroad grade crossing as conclusive warning of danger and shall not cross the track until the operator has determined that no train is approaching.
Weather Conditions
During wet, stormy or foggy weather, before placing part of the bus on the tracks, the bus operator must know that the crossing can be made in safety. Any use of flares or warning signals must be taken as an additional warning of danger.
Behavior of Students
When any school bus must stop for any railroad track at grade, all students must be silent until the crossing is completed. Such signal for silence shall be given by the school bus operator.
Procedures at Intersections
Use only brake lights when coming to the stop.
For buses equipped with standard transmissions, place gearshift in neutral while waiting for the traffic to clear or for the traffic light to change to green.
Use the hand brake if on a grade to prevent rolling backward or forward. (Being in neutral gear prevents the bad practice of "slipping" the clutch to keep the bus from rolling and also prevents plowing into traffic in case of an accident.)
At an intersection not controlled by stop or yield signs or stop lights, and at controlled intersections where you have the right of way, remove your right foot from the accelerator and allow it to hover over the brake pedal until you have cleared the intersection. (This will reduce the time needed to react in case you have to make an emergency stop.)
Turns
For left or right turns, use the turn indicating device to indicate your intent at least 100 feet before turning. Always move as far right as safety permits for right turns, and as close to the center line as possible for left turns.
Speed Limits
The maximum speed limit is 35 miles per hour under conditions which require frequent stops to receive and discharge students.
The maximum speed limit is 55 miles per hour under conditions which do not require frequent stops to receive and discharge students.
Never drive faster than posted speed limits on highways, city streets or in school zones. Road conditions should always be considered in addition to posted speed limits.
Interstate Driving
Interstate driving is particularly dangerous because of the high rate of speed involved. For this reason it is important that school buses use the right lane except for passing and for exiting to the left lane. The following points will make a safer interstate driver.
When changing lanes:
check rear and side view mirrors;
check blind spot (look over your shoulder toward the rear);
signal your intention;
pull into left lane, accelerate and pass;
activate your right hand directional signal and when you can see the front of the passed vehicle, pull into the right lane.
Leave plenty of distance between you and the vehicle ahead; remember the four-second rule.
Drive at interstate speeds. Driving either too fast or too slow is hazardous. The maximum speed for school buses on interstate highways is 55 MPH.
Posted ramp speeds apply to automobiles. Reduce school bus speed to accommodate all necessary maneuvers.
Miscellaneous
No rider may stand forward of the rear of the driver's seat. Buses designed to allow standing must have a 2-inch line on the floor or some other means of showing riders where they cannot stand. This is called the standee line. All standing riders must stay behind it. In compliance with R.S. 32:293--Seating Capacity, it shall be unlawful for anyone responsible for the transportation of children to permit a number of children exceeding one hundred ten percent (110%) capacity of a bus to be transported at one time.
While driving, scan the interior of your bus as well as the road ahead, to the sides, and to the rear. You may have to remind riders about rules and keeping arms inside.
The bus shall not be fueled while children are on board.
The bus operator shall wear a seat belt at all times while the bus is in motion.
The bus operator shall not leave the bus while children are on board unless there is an extreme emergency.
Bus operators shall report verbally to the principal the license plate number of any vehicle which passes his/her bus when he/she has the arms out and the flashers flashing indicating the bus is legally stopped. The bus operator shall give a full verbal report to the principal indicating place, time, circumstances and any other information which may be necessary for possible legal action. The bus operator shall report the violation within twenty-four (24) hours to the principal.
The principal shall furnish to the Superintendent of Schools a full written report as given to him by the bus operator within twenty-four (24) hours.
The Superintendent of Schools shall determine the necessary action to be taken in accordance with information furnished to him/her by the school principal.
Sabine Parish School Board