Safe
Student
Loading and Unloading
2008 - 2009
Washington State
School Bus Driver Inservice
Introduction
►The danger zone
►Mirror adjustment
►School bus stop locations
►Safe Loading and Unloading
►Student Instruction
The Danger Zone
The 10-foot area around the bus.
The Safe Walk Zone
Front
Where drivers expect kids to walk.
Instruction to Students
►Why
it’s the danger zone.
 The driver can’t see them
 Increased risk
►Where
it is safe to walk?
Correct Mirror
Adjustments
Left and Right Flat Mirrors
Adjusted so the driver can see:
►200
feet behind the bus.
 That is 5 - forty foot bus lengths
►Just along the sides of the bus.
Left Flat Mirror Correct Adjustment
200 Feet
Visible
behind bus
Only
“1 inch”
of bus
‘showing’
in the
mirror
INCORRECT Mirror Adjustment
Most of the
mirror
just shows
the side
of the bus
200 Feet
Visible
behind bus
Only
1 inch of
bus
showing
Right Flat Mirror
Correct Adjustment
INCORRECT Mirror Adjustment
Too much
of the bus
shows in
the mirror
Mirror
doesn’t
show the
rear wheels
Left and Right Convex Mirrors
►The
side of the bus up to the
mirror mounts
►Front of the rear tires touching
the ground
►At least one traffic lane on either
side (12’ out – 32’ back)
12 feet out at
32 feet back from
the front bumper
12 feet out at
32 feet back from
the front bumper
Left and Right Cross-view Mirrors
►From
the front bumper at ground
level to direct vision area.
►The front tires at the ground.
►Front of the bus to the door.
► Overlap direct and mirror vision.
Left
cross-view
mirror
Right
cross-view
mirror
Interior Rearview Mirror
►The
top of the rear window
►The
first row of seats
Interior Rearview Mirror
CORRECT Adjustment
The mirror
is just showing
the rear window …
… and the front
row of seats
Too much of
the bus ceiling …
… and not enough
of the front seats
Interior Rearview Mirror
INCORRECT Adjustment
School Bus Stop
Locations
Requirements for
School Bus Stop Locations
►Cannot
require students to cross
three or more lanes of traffic.
►Except:
traffic signal or adult
crossing guard within 300’.
WAC 392-145-011 (5)
Requirements for
School Bus Stop Locations
►Not
located on a hill or curve
without 500 feet of visibility
►If
500 feet is not possible, either
a sign should be provided or the
stop should be relocated.
WAC 392-145-011 (6)
School Bus Stop Locations
Other Considerations
►Must
have sufficient room for
students to safely wait off the
roadway
►Look
for well-lit, open areas
Prohibited
School Bus Stop Locations
►Within
or blocking intersections
►On a sidewalk
►On a planting strip
►On a crosswalk
(RCW 46.61.570)
Loading & Unloading
Procedures
A Driver’s Responsibility
Safe Student
Loading and Unloading
Each Stop – Every Day
WAC 392-145-060 (3)
A Driver’s Responsibility
Know and follow the
laws and regulations for
loading and unloading students
Check for sleeping kids
at the end of each route.
STUDENT STOPS
LOADING & UNLOADING
ON THE ROAD
KEEP CHECKING
YOUR MIRRORS
On the Road – School Bus Stop
Check your mirrors!
Activate the alternating flashing amber
lights before the school bus stop:
► Speed limit 35 mph or less
100 to 300 feet
► Speed limit more than 35 mph
300 to 500 feet
Check your mirrors!
On the Road - Bus Stop cont.
► Slowly
approach and stop
Check your mirrors!
► Set parking brake – Transmission in N
Check your mirrors!
► Activate red alternating flashing lights
(with the switch -- not the door)
► Check your mirrors & open the door.
On the Road – Bus Stop cont.
►If
students are crossing, signal
when it is safe to cross
►In the PM, students wait 10 feet
in front of the bus.
►Keep track of where the students
are .… watch them until they get
on the bus or leave the stop
►Keep checking your mirrors.
On the Road – Bus Stop cont.
►Close
the door
►AM: when all students are
seated, cancel the 8-way lights
Check your mirrors
►Transmission in gear, release the
parking brake, check your
mirrors and proceed.
When NOT to Use the
8-Light System:
►On
school property
►Loading & unloading off the road
►While backing or at RR crossings
►To assist another school bus
driver to control traffic
Off The Road Stops
Student
Loading & Unloading
Off the Road – School Bus Stop
Check your mirrors!
►Activate the right turn signal
Check your mirrors!
►Carefully pull off - approach the
bus stop - make a complete stop
Check your mirrors!
►Cancel the turn signal
Off the Road – Bus Stop cont.
Check your mirrors!
►Set the parking brake
►Place the transmission in neutral
►Activate the 4-way hazard lights
Keep checking your mirrors!
►Keep light pressure on the brake
Off the Road – Bus Stop cont.
Keep checking your mirrors
►Open the door, keeping track of
the kids and where they are
►Make sure the students are safe
Check your mirrors
►Close door, transmission in gear
and release the parking brake
Off the Road – Bus Stop cont.
Keep checking your mirrors
►Cancel the hazard lights and
engage the left turn signal
Check your mirrors…
►Watch for unexpected students
Check your mirrors
►Merge back into the traffic
State regulation requires the
use of the parking brake
every time you are
loading or unloading passengers.
WAC 392-145-060 (10)
School Zone
Loading and Unloading
School Zone Loading/Unloading
►
►
►
►
►
►
Keep checking your mirrors
Approach the load zone w/ care
Set the parking brake
Transmission in neutral/park
Turn off the engine
Check your mirrors - open door
Monitor students
School Zone Loading/Unload cont.
►
►
►
►
AM: walk through the bus for
forgotten items or sleepers
Minimize idling in the load zone
Remove the key if leaving bus.
If backing is necessary, have
another adult assist you.
Loading and Unloading
Turnaround Stops
Turnaround Stops
►
►
Any turnaround stop requires
specific, previous authorization
Back into least traveled portion
AM: Load students, then back
► PM: Back first, then unload
►
Stop Logistics
Inclement Weather
Routes and Stops
►Let
dispatch know if the
roadway conditions change
after the routes or stops are
established
(Example: a new road is put in)
Road Construction
►Let
dispatch know if you see a
sign indicating scheduled road
construction
►Emergency
road closures – don’t
release students without
notification or authorization.
Stop location
►Let
dispatch know if, as
students move in and out of a
neighborhood, conditions
change and a different stop
location provides more safety.
Heavy Traffic Stops
►AM
 Students at the stop early
 Wait until all kids are seated
►PM have students:
 Move forward
 Be ready to disembark
 Wait for all students to clear
Courteous Driving
►At
all times, represent the school
district in a professional manner
►If
you have traffic backed up from
student loading/unloading, do what
you can to safely let traffic clear
Student Behavior and the
Loading Process
Student Instruction
►Walk
safely to the bus stop
►Arrive early (district procedure)
►Respect private property and use
good behavior at the stop
►Load the bus single file –
no pushing or shoving
Student Instruction, cont.
►If
they cross the road to the bus:
 Wait for the Driver’s signal
 Cross 10’ in front of the bus
 Never cross behind the bus
 Stay out of the Danger Zone
►Always
use the handrail getting
on or off the bus
Student Instruction, cont.
►Only
get off the bus at your
assigned bus stop (follow district
procedure)
►Stay seated until the bus comes
to a complete stop
►Look both ways as you step off
the bus
Bus Stop Behavior
► Drivers
have responsibility to report
students misbehaving at bus stops
► School
districts have responsibility for
the safety of students
 To and from the school bus stop (some)
 Getting on and off the school bus
 While the student is on the bus
Parents
or
Unauthorized Individuals
on the School Bus
Insistent and Concerned Parent
►
►
►
►
►
Assure them you would like to talk
about their concerns
Give them a name and phone #
Remind them you have a schedule
Ask them to step off the bus
Warn them of any further action
Unauthorized Individuals
►
►
►
►
►
Try to keep them off the bus
If they get on the bus, keep
asking them to leave
Call for 911
Try to stay calm and keep your
students calm
Make notes about the intruder
Laws Protecting Bus Drivers
RCW 28A.635.090
Interference by force or violence
(1) It’s unlawful for any person …
to interfere by force or violence
with any … classified employee,
(or) person under contract with
the … school district … in the …
conduct of his or her duties ….
Laws Protecting Drivers, cont.
RCW 28A.635.100
Intimidating any … classified
employee … by threat of force or
violence is unlawful.
Both violations are gross
misdemeanors with $500 fines
and six months in jail.
Summary
 Remember the danger zone
 Adjust your mirrors
 Always use the correct procedures
 Keep training students
You Do A Great Job…
THANKS FOR KEEPING KIDS SAFE!