Transcript Document

AVOIDING BUS
COLLISIONS
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MOST COMMON CAUSES OF
BUS COLLISIONS
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Striking parked vehicles.
Striking other objects.
Intersection collisions.
Sideswiping or improper lane changes.
Backing into another vehicle or object.
Rear-ending other vehicles.
Failure to yield right-of-way.
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Striking Parked
Vehicles
Common Occurrences:
• On school property.
• On side-streets, while on route.
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Necessary Avoidance Skills
• Check your mirrors before you move
the bus.
• Don’t move bus without checking for
clearance.
• Avoid squeezing through tight areas.
• Report vehicles parked in bus loading
zones.
• Follow your district’s reporting
procedures.
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Striking Other Objects
Common Occurrences:
• Over-hangs in apartment complexes
and business lots.
• Basketball hoops in
neighborhoods/schools.
• Mailboxes.
• Fences.
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Necessary Avoidance Skills
• Look ahead and identify hazards
ahead of time.
• Leave adequate space between bus
and over-hanging object .
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Intersection Collisions
Common Occurrences:
• Controlled Intersections.
• Uncontrolled Intersections.
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Necessary Avoidance Skills
• Before proceeding through “green
lights”, make extra traffic checks
• As you approach intersections, slow
down, place your foot over the brake
and be prepared to stop
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Sideswiping or
Improper Lane Changes
Common Occurrences
• Failing to square corners when
negotiating right turns examples:
shortcuts, need to use reference point
turns
• Traveling down the center of a fourlane road
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Necessary Avoidance Skills
• Use reference points to make square
right hand turns
• Double check your mirrors before
making turns or changing lanes
• Use turn signals properly, 100 feet
prior to making a turn or lane change
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Backing into a Vehicle or Object
Common Occurrences
• On school property
• In the bus parking lot area
• Mail boxes
• Road signs
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Necessary Avoidance Skills
• Get out and look around the bus and
make certain the area is clear
• Avoid backing whenever possible. It is
always a last resort
• Follow district procedures
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Rear-Ending Other Vehicles
Common Occurrences
• At controlled intersections
• In route
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Necessary Avoidance Skills
• Look ahead and predict traffic
conditions
• Allow adequate space to stop
• Be aware of road conditions (rain,
snow/ice, fog, etc.)
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Failure to Yield Right-of-Way
Common Occurrences
• At controlled intersections (making
free right turns)
• At uncontrolled intersections (vehicle
to right goes first)
• Exiting driveways
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Necessary Avoidance Skills
• Check the intersection continuously
for oncoming traffic.
• Before proceeding, allow the time and
space you need
• Don’t trust the “turn signal” of
approaching vehicles.
• Remain stopped until the other
motorist slows and negotiates the turn
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“At Fault” School Bus Collisions
Top Three Contributing Factors
• Inattention
• Rushing
• Failure to follow proper procedures
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Inattention
Come Prepared for the Job
• Be mentally aware of your
surroundings at all times
• Get enough rest/sleep
• Know the route. Look at your route
book while the bus is stopped.
Avoid looking at it while driving.
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Inattention
• Check your mirrors on a regular basis
• Be prepared for the unexpected
• If your thoughts start to wonder away
from the road you need to refocus
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Student Management Issues
• Know your students. Understand the
behaviors and what to expect from
students with medical conditions or
disabilities
• Assign seats when necessary to
better manage students
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Student Management Issues
• Remind students of the rules and
enforce them regularly and
consistently.
• When the students are out of control,
pull the bus off road and take
appropriate action. Don’t try to solve
uncontrollable disruptions while
driving. Follow district procedures.
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Rushing
Allow Adequate Time
• Do your pre-trip
• Review your route book
• Know about any last minute changes
to the route
• Prepare yourself for driving both
physically & emotionally
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Communication is important
• Report to Administration
• Report Changes inTraffic
• New Road Construction Projects
• When School Scheduling has
changed
• Unavoidable Congestion
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How to Get Help
• Follow district procedures
• Report to school district administration
or school
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Failure to Follow
Proper Procedures
Steps to eliminate contributing factors
• Know the rules of the road and
review them regularly
• Know the district’s transportation
policies
• Know the district’s student discipline
procedures
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Failure to Follow
Proper Procedures
Steps to eliminate contributing factors
• When in doubt, ask administration for
clarification
• Attend inservice programs and hone
your skills
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SUMMARY
Most Frequent:
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Striking parked vehicles or objects
Intersection collisions
Sideswiping or improper lane changes
Backing into or rear ending another vehicle
Failure to yield the right-of-way
Contributing Factors:
• Inattention
• Rushing
• Failure to follow procedures
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EVALUATION
1. Name three (3) of the most frequent
causes of school bus collision claims.
2. Name three contributing factors to at
fault collisions.
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Answer
#1
• Striking parked vehicles
• Striking other objects
• Intersection collisions
• Sideswiping or improper lane changes
• Backing into other vehicle or object
• Rear ending other vehicle
• Failure to yield right-of-way
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Answer
#2
• Inattention
• Rushing
• Failure to follow proper procedures
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