School bus driver winter driving tips

However, if you must travel, penndot offers the following tips for safe driving this winter season. Putting the brrrrrakes on winter driving crashes while summer months are the deadliest on minnesota roads, wintertime leads to the most crashes and poses safety risks and hazards. Be mindful of your location using crossroads, mileposts or key landmarks. The thinking driver program was created by spencer mcdonald, driver psychology and counseling specialist to improve driver attitudes and reduce aggressive driving and fleet incident rates.

Accept responsibility it is the drivers job to be prepared for winter conditions. When roads and walkways are slippery, rushing to catch the bus or. Also provided is information on vehicle systems, driver preparation, winter driving techniques maximizing traction, maintaining safe following distance and changing speed smoothly and additional hints and precautions helpful to drivers of front. Operation lifesavers school bus driver elearning program is an interactive online experience for public and private school bus drivers, designed to bring attention to choices a driver must make around tracks and trains. School bus safety tips for driverssafe driving in school. As roads become more congested and drivers become more distracted, bus. Driving slowly will most likely prevent water from building up underneath the tires of the school bus. If there are stops on hills where the bus may get stuck in the snow, the driver goes beyond the hill where it is safe.

Cross 10 feet in front of the bus so the driver can see you as you cross. Bus driving safety round up tips and checklists january 15, 2016 neil leave a comment whether you drive a charter bus, shuttle bus, school bus, tour bus or city bus, you know that the lives of your passengers are in your hands every day, and we. Winter can be a treacherous time to drive school buses. We have some tips to help your bus drivers be careful on the icy roads. School bus safety tips safety tips for the children and. Lets look at the top driving tips that bus drivers can adopt to make each trip safer for themselves, passengers, pedestrians and other drivers on the road. Drivers who give themselves extra time to get to their. While the air temperature may not seem too cold, the wind may increase its effect. First student shares 12 winter driving safety tips. In 2017, school bus related crashes killed 95 people according to the national safety council. An illustrated guide that offers tips to become a safer and more efficient driver in adverse weather conditions. Tips for truck and bus drivers federal motor carrier safety.

Make sure you adjust the way you drive by following these steps. Plan your travel, selecting both primary and alternate routes. The safety of children on the school bus depends not only on the bus driver, but others on the road as well. Here are my first few tips to keep you and your teen driver safe and confident behind the wheel. School bus safety traffic in colorado challenges even the most experienced driver.

The safety of children on the school bus depends not only on the bus driver, but other drivers as well, said darryl hill, senior vice president of. Oct 24, 2016 15 tips to help you pass your cdl test. First student offers the following winter safety tips to students, parents and motorists. Included are the meanings of words, list of valves, and explanations of the system. There are a few important things to consider when driving in the winter season. Children should also always be aware of the fact that they need to listen to the bus driver at all times, and follow the bus drivers instructions. Read more tips for driving a school bus in winter weather eric jones, june 27, 2019. To pass your cdl license, you must pass the cdl air brakes. The true effect of winter weather on your body can be deceiving.

Defensive driving this course is a comprehensive tutorial designed for any employee who drives a work vehicle including both professional and nonprofessional drivers. You should always anticipate that, despite your best preparations, something could go wrong. However, with more passengers in their vehicle and a greater number of challenges created by the size and nature of their vehicles, bus drivers have a tremendous responsibility when it comes to safe driving. The first winter storms have begun wreaking havoc across much of the us, and school bus drivers are having to take extra steps to ensure the safety of students on their way toandfrom school. One of the most effective ways of keeping yourself and other road users safe is to keep a safe separation distance between you and the vehicle in front. Basic car safety encourages the use of seat belts and car seats at all times. This keep the air circulating though the bus from front to rear without a lot of cold air also alleviates some odors coming to the front as well. Not only does winter weather create numerous driving challenges, it also tests the limits of a school bus s mechanical abilities. Driving safety course online fleet safety thinking driver. In order to be properly prepared, take a few of these steps to keep your drivers, students and buses safe. Your driver must be aware of the effects of cold weather in the event he or she becomes stranded. Learn more how proud school bus drivers make use of good tools below. With winter weather fast approaching, now is the time to get your school buses and drivers ready.

This helps insulate their feet from the cold floor in the winter. Winter storms, bad weather and sloppy road conditions are a factor in nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter, according to research by the aaa foundation for traffic safety. These driving tips are specifically for driving in bad weather. Safety behind the wheel should be top of mind for every driver. During the winter months, what is the number one piece of. Students, parents, teachers, administrators, transportation personnel and the motoring public all play important roles in keeping our children safe while on or around the school bus. Whether you own a shuttle bus company, or manage school buses or city buses, you know how important it is for your drivers to stay safe, and keep your precious cargo safe. Safe and responsible bus driving dvsa safe driving for. Loss control insights for schools 5 school bus winter driving safety tips. Sep 01, 2007 in some areas of the country, school bus managers need to provide drivers with alternate routes because winter weather can be unpredictable. Nov 17, 2017 winter is arriving once again, yeah soon enough school bus drivers will need to take extra steps to ensure the safety of students on their way to and from school. Preparing for winter driving starts in the fall, prior to inclement weather. Driving on snow or ice requires a skill set that every school bus driver will need.

Unlike most drivers who deliver equipment or supplies, their cargo is our most precious asset children. Jan 10, 2018 driving on snow can be much more dangerous than driving in good weather, as the cars tyres have far less grip. According to esposito, there are a few locations where traveling on a hill would cause undue safety concerns in a severe storm. Winter storm events often have moderate to significant travel impacts. School bus safety tips for riders and drivers state farm. Winter driving tips severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for travelers. Whether youre just out of truck driver school or a seasoned veteran on the roads, winter weather can make operating your rig a tricky proposition use these winter driving safety tips for commercial drivers to make sound decisions and be safe out on the roads this winter. In addition to an annual prewinter inspection, drivers should examine their buses individually before each. If a bus is running late our bus companies do their best to alert the school and the transportation department. To find the wind chill, find the actual air temperature in the calm. It will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing. Tips for safe winter bus driving northwest bus sales.

First student shares top winter safety tips for drivers, students. If youre driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. Wisconsin department of transportation winter driving. Check out these five tips to keep your students and driver safe. Remember, if winter weather is forecast, eliminate all unnecessary travel. The course content includes strategic driving tips and realworld driving scenarios to help improve decisionmaking when employees are behind the wheel of a company vehicle or. Because its snowing outside you have to be really careful to avoid crashing your giant vehicle. Drivers should complete a checklist before every trip. Tips for preparing drivers for winter weather safety school bus. Sit behind the wheel of a large city bus and deliver the passengers safely to their stop.

Not only does it discourage littering, but also doubles in cases of nausea problems. Red flashing lights on buses indicates students are either entering or exiting the bus. If you do become stranded, youll be better prepared to describe your location for law enforcement or tow truck operators. Cincinnati with many areas of the country already experiencing snow and ice, which can mean dangerous driving conditions, first student is offering some winter driving safety tips. Play winter bus driver, the first installment of the funaddicting driving game. This will keep you and your family safe and allow penndot to more easily perform its winter duties. This means that to avoid skidding a driver has to plan further ahead than normal. First student shares 12 winter driving safety tips school bus fleet. We have assembled six tips to help you take the stress out of driving in winter weather. Nov 01, 2018 the safety of children on the school bus depends not only on the bus driver, but others on the road as well. Below is some information you may find useful as you prepare to confront the winter season. Zonar offers school bus drivers tips for staying safe during.

Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm. School bus drivers are in a unique class of commercial operators. Additional winter driving conditions a bus driver should always be aware of include whenever a bus drives through a ditch or deep puddles of water. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children. Safe and responsible bus driving dvsa safe driving for life. Driving under adverse weather conditions for school bus drivers. The most common cause of collision is a driver turning left in front of a bicyclist. Maintain a safe distance to the vehicle in front, it takes twice as much distance to stop in the rain.

Here are tips for drivers who share the roads with school buses, as well as some easy lessons to teach your kids about bus safety. The first winter storms have begun wreaking havoc across much of the us, and school bus drivers are having to take extra steps to ensure the. In some areas of the country, school bus managers need to provide drivers with alternate routes because winter weather can be unpredictable. Navigating overburdened roads in snowy weather, watching out for pedestrians, red light runners and uncertain tourists complicates even a short trip across our growing communities. Keeping your windshield and windows clean, improves your visibility, reduces distractions and also helps cut down on sun glare. Driving under adverse weather conditions for school bus. The companys drivers are trained and prepared for driving in adverse the conditions that come with the harsh weather in the winter season. Winter is here, and snow storms are hitting hard all across the northern hemisphere. Its up to you as the driver to keep your concentration on driving. The thinking driver program was created by spencer mcdonald, driver psychology and counseling specialist to improve driver attitudes and reduce aggressive driving.

School bus safety is a high priority in pennsylvania. Check out these tips to help keep your staff, students and the public safe this winter. Extreme weather and poor light can make driving dangerous in the winter months. In the past five years, officers reported snowy or icy road conditions in more than 79,569 crashes 20142018. Driving during winter weather conditions is sometimes hazardous at best. Driving under adverse weather conditions for school bus drivers nhtsa school bus driver inservice safety series. Oct 08, 2018 winter is arriving once again, yeah soon enough school bus drivers will need to take extra steps to ensure the safety of students on their way to and from school.

Its also important that children know not to talk too loud on the school bus to ensure that the bus driver is not distracted. Winter driving can be dangerous for bus drivers, their passengers and everyone else on the road. Bus driving safety round up tips and checklists january 15, 2016 neil leave a comment whether you drive a charter bus, shuttle bus, school bus, tour bus or city bus, you know that the lives of your passengers are in your hands every day, and we want to help keep everyone safe, including you. Winter driving safety for school bus drivers youtube. Dont play on snow piles at the bus stop you could slide into the street. Motorists must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus that is displaying red flashing lights andor its stop arm is extended when approaching from the rear and from the opposite direction on undivided roads. Driving on snow can be much more dangerous than driving in good weather, as the cars tyres have far less grip. With so many large pileups in the news lately and with the extreme weather we seem to be having, its important to know how to drive in all sorts of weather conditions. School bus drivers must take extra steps to make sure theyre keeping passengers and other drivers safe, such as extending the stop arm at railroad crossings and when children are loading or unloading, as well as watching for passing or oncoming cars before letting children in or out of the bus.