1. Avoiding driver at-fault school bus collisions
Introduction: S-1
As we all know, maneuvering a school bus on the road has become a great defensive challenge to ensure the safety of our students. Traffic, obstacles and student behaviors can divert a driver’s attention. This is when collisions occur. Please take a moment to look at handout H H-1
The top four school bus driver caused collisions collected by the Washington State Patrol in 2014 were:
Failure to yield
Inattention to the roadway
Following too close
Improper Backing
Today we will use these statistics to review techniques that keep our focus back where it belongs: on the road and the environment around us.
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2. School Bus Driver Collisions
Top causes:
Failure to yield
Driver inattention
Following too close
Improper backing
Presentation: S-2
We are fortunate to have statistics just for driver at-fault school bus collisions. Knowing this information helps us to concentrate on where we must review our habits, increase our caution, and make changes for improvement.
The information provided in the WSP report includes all reported school bus collisions. The statistics do not include incidents that were minor or went unreported.
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3. Failure to yield Make Complete Stops Failure To Yield S-3
To avoid “failure to yield” collisions, we must know when to yield
and do it every time.
Avoidable collisions include any situation where other traffic has the right-of-way. Hitting a parked vehicle or other stationary object is counted as a failure to yield.
Make complete stops
Make complete stops at intersections, whether it’s a red light, stop sign or uncontrolled intersection.
Coming to a stop means all wheels are halted.
A rolling stop is not a stop.
Stop just before a stop line.
If there is a crosswalk, stop before the line when it is occupied.
If there is a yield sign, yield.
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4. Failure to yield Look Both Ways Look both ways – Look ALL ways S-4
“Rock and roll” when looking left and right.
The reason for moving side-to-side and front-to-back is to see around vision blockers. A person and even a truck can be blocked from your sight by:
your mirror system,
other parts of the bus or
any object outside of your bus.
Remember your basic school bus training: look left, look right and look left again.
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5. Failure to yield Check: Mirrors Check mirrors S-5
Use your Mirrors, Mirrors, Mirrors
Mirrors increase your indirect area of vision around the bus.
They must be adjusted properly.
Check the adjustment each time and in each bus you drive.
Mirrors must be adjusted specifically for each driver.
Sub drivers should adjust the mirrors to suit them.
If you have to move around in your seat from your normal seated position to see properly out of your mirrors, they need adjustment.
Use a mirror station or ask for help to adjust mirrors properly.
ASK: What are your suggestions for getting help to adjust your mirrors?
Move your head and not just your eyes:
you will see more, and
your looking and seeing will be more intentional.
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6. Failure to yield Check Crosswalks Use caution at crosswalks S-6
In the school year there were several widely publicized, very serious incidents where school bus drivers struck pedestrians while entering crosswalks.
We already talked about making complete stops.
Always anticipate a pedestrian.
Stop short of the crosswalk to
allow plenty of room and
give yourself the best vantage point.
We cannot stress the importance of “rocking and rolling” when looking left and right as you look around your vision blockers for pedestrians.
Re-check for pedestrians before and as you enter the intersection.
Pedestrians can walk at the same speed you are driving; this makes it possible for them to remain behind a vision blocker as you start to move.
Pedestrians don’t always check traffic before entering crosswalk and can seem to suddenly appear.
They may be wearing dark clothing, headphones, or looking down.
Pedestrians have the right of way
ASK: What are some examples of locations where you must be extra vigilant on your route?
It’s very good to know where the challenges are on your routes. Now let’s look at the next cause of school bus driver collisions.
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7. Driver inattention Driver Inattention S-7
Inattention can be blamed on many reasons. However, when it comes to driving children, there is no good reason to be distracted.
We must avoid being distracted whenever possible and recognize the moment our attention isn’t focused on safe driving.
There are some basic practices that help to keep attention on the roadway.
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8. Driver inattention Look Ahead Look ahead S-8 Look 12-15 seconds ahead.
The instinct is to look at the vehicle ahead of you.
Looking farther ahead widens your field of vision and allows you to pay attention to the whole picture.
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9. Driver inattention Scan Scan S-9
The traffic situation constantly changes.
Continuously look left, right, left, right, ahead, behind and use your mirrors.
If you have to spend extended time looking in your interior mirror for student management, you are not paying attention to the road.
Keep in mind an escape plan in case of traffic problems
Avoid getting boxed in by other vehicles
Practice looking around cars in sudden stop situations. You will go where you focus.
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10. Driver inattention Radio Only When Necessary
Use radio only if necessary S-10
1. Reaching for the radio can cause you to take your eyes off the road.
2. Keep radio talk to a minimum, per FCC.
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11. Driver inattention Prevent Preoccupation Kids, home, to do list
Prevent preoccupation S-11
1. Are you paying more attention to the students than the road?
Remember that most issues can be addressed when the bus is not moving.
If you are looking in your student mirror, you are not looking at the road.
2. Are you thinking of personal issues?
Remember to “pre-trip” yourself before getting on the bus.
You cannot fix personal issues while you drive a school bus.
3. Do you remember the last bus stop or the last mile?
You can train your mind to stay focused.
If you find yourself mentally drifting or daydreaming, bring yourself back to driving.
ASK: What should you do when you are paying more attention to students than the road?
ASK: How do you pre-trip yourself?
ASK: What techniques do you use when you find you are preoccupied?
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12. Following Too Close Leave Enough Room
Techniques for Proper Following Distance S-12
Use correct following distances
For every 10 feet of vehicle you add 1 second. With a speed of over 40 mph you add 1 additional second.
ASK: How many seconds should be between two school buses traveling at 35 mph? (Answer: 4 seconds)
ASK: How many seconds should be between two school buses traveling at 45 mph? (Answer: 5 seconds)
Pick a stationary object on side of road. When the rear of the vehicle in front of you passes the object, count 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, etc.
The average driver has a reaction time of about ¾ of a second.
At 55 mph, reaction distance accounts for 61 feet traveled.
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13. Following Too Close Pay Attention In Convoys
Leave room in convoys S-13
Keep a proper following distance. Remember the 4 second rule.
When vehicle pulls in front of you, back off and keep proper distance.
Anyone can make an emergency stop at any time – even the school bus in front of you.
Each driver should have directions to their destination.
In case of separation, each driver will be able to find location.
Discuss a specific meet place or strategy at the destination point.
Radios are available in case of separation.
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14. Following Too Close Be Defensive: Scan And Plan Scan the area S-14
Use defensive driving.
Prepare to react to other drivers. Example: if you see brake lights ahead, be prepared to slow down.
2. Plan your escape route.
Be aware if you can move to the right or left, stop suddenly.
TRAINER NOTE: Review your district convoy policy or procedures here.
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15. Improper Backing Look Before Backing Proper Backing Maneuvers S-15
Check for obstacles
a. Make sure you have the room and clearance to back up.
b. Look for signs, mailboxes, tree limbs, vehicles, etc.
2. Rock and roll
a. Move around your vision blockers .
b. Continue as you’re backing.
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16. Improper Backing
Use your mirrors Fight complacency Back as a last resort Call for assistance
Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors S-16
Your mirrors are another set of eyes.
All the mirrors together make one mirror system.
When adjusted properly, you will see the required area.
Fight complacency
Drivers get used to their route and assume situations remain the same day-to-day.
The turnaround may be blocked by new obstacles.
Backing is a last resort
Remember how much space is behind you.
Request an adult spotter in tight or congested situations.
Call for assistance
Be proactive and call for help if necessary.
Don’t back against your better judgment.
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17. other bus collisions Speeding Other Driver “At-Fault” Collisions S-17
Speeding, variable speed
Washington State school buses need to follow truck speed, as this is the law.
Be aware of changing speeds including:
a. changes in freeway/highway speeds and
b. rural area speeds frequently drop close to town.
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18. other bus collisions Right And Left Turns
Right and left hand turns S-18
1. Check Mirrors
a. Rock and roll.
b. Look for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling the same path as vision blockers.
2. Watch tail swing
a. Your primary focus should be the direction your bus is turning rather than the rear.
b. Watch rear wheel tracking.
c. At apex of turn, quickly observe opposite mirror, then back to where wheels are tracking, your primary focus.
3. Turn into nearest lane of traffic if there is more than one
lane.
Ask: What is the legal speed for right and left turns in a commercial vehicle?
(Maximum is 10 mph, however… 5-7 mph is the speed recommended for safe maneuvering.)
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19. Other bus collisions Lane Changes Lane changes S-19
Check mirrors for traffic alongside the bus or traffic that is about to pass the bus.
Make sure there is enough room for the bus to fit.
Signal
Check mirrors for indirect area beside and behind bus.
Start lane change and check that path is clear.
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20. Other bus collisions Driving In The Dark Driving in the dark S-20
1. Adjust speed to stop in range of headlights.
a. Low beams approx. 250 feet or less
b. High beams approx feet or less
2. Keep headlights, windshield, and mirrors clean.
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21. Other bus collisions Unfamiliar Locations Unfamiliar locations S-21
Don’t fixate on street signs.
Fixating distracts the driver from seeing surrounding area.
Keep aware of surroundings.
Get a map and follow it.
Use your best judgment.
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22. Other bus collisions Parking Lots Parking lots S-22
Plan ahead so you’re not caught in a sticky situation.
Will the bus fit? Is there enough room to park?
Drive slowly and continue constant scanning.
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23. Four top causes of driver at-fault collisions Failure to yield,
SUMMARY
Four top causes of driver at-fault collisions
Failure to yield,
Driver inattention,
Following too close and
Improper backing.
Summary: S-23
The thought of a collision in a school bus is unnerving. Yet collisions happen. We focused on the four top school bus driver at-fault collisions in Washington State
Failure to yield,
Driver inattention
Following too close and
Improper backing.
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24. Use extra caution and proper following distance
SUMMARY
Avoid collisions
Use extra caution and proper following distance
Focus attention on roadway
Be aware of surroundings
S-24
By taking extra caution, we can limit failure to yield collisions. Focusing our attention back to the roadway will reduce driver inattention collisions. By utilizing proper following techniques, even when following another school bus, we will avoid following too close collisions which is another way of saying rear-end collision. When backing, we need to be aware of our surroundings at all times.
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25. Other reasons for collisions: Speeding Improper turns/lane changes
SUMMARY
Other reasons for collisions:
Speeding
Improper turns/lane changes
Driving too fast in the dark
S-25
We also identified other kinds of collisions caused by speeding, improper turns and lane changes, as well as driving too fast in the dark. There are many techniques to keep these collisions from happening.
Every driver strives to keep their kids safe, as well as others around them. Let’s keep up the good work and continue to improve!
Are there any questions?
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26. EVALUATION 1. Name the top four causes of driver at-fault collisions
Failure to yield
Driver inattention
Following too close
Improper backing
Use the slide above – Click to reveal answers S-26
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27. EVALUATION 2. Name four ways to avoid failure to yield accidents
Make complete stops
Look both ways
Check mirrors
Check crosswalks
Use the slide above – Click to reveal answers S-27
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28. EVALUATION 3. What are four ways to keep attention on the roadway?
Look ahead
Scan
Limit radio use
Don’t fixate
Use the slide above – Click to reveal answers S-28
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29. EVALUATION 4. List three techniques for proper following distance.
1 second/10 ft. of length rule
Convoy etiquette
Scan
Use the slide above – Click to reveal answers S-29
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30. EVALUATION 5. Describe five safe backing maneuvers Look Check mirrors
Fight complacency
Back as a last resort
Ask for help
Use the slide above – Click to reveal answers S-30
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31. EVALUATION 6. Name two other driver at-fault collisions Speeding
Turning
Lane changes
Driving in the dark
Unfamiliar locations
Parking lots
Use the slide above – Click to reveal answers S-31
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