Vans, Belts, and Des Moines Charlie Hood, NASDPTS Executive Director February 12, 2015 FAPT Mid-year Directors Meeting Tallahassee, Florida

Vans “No,” Buses “Yes,” and more... NHTSA regulations prohibit a school or school system from purchasing or leasing a new 15- passenger van "if it will be used significantly by or on behalf of the school or school system to transport preprimary, primary, or secondary school students to and from school or an event related to school, unless the 15- passenger van complies with the motor vehicle standards prescribed for school buses and multifunction school activity buses."

NASDPTS Survey on Vehicles Conducted in January 2015 Reported types of vehicles allowed for student transport in the 40 states responding Not surprisingly, all 40 states allow the use of School Buses for nearly all public student transportation. Four states allow Activity Buses to be used for regular home-school-home transportation, while 18 allow them for curriculum-related trips, and 21 for non-curricular field or activity trips.

NASDPTS Survey on Vehicle Used Three states allow MFSABs to be used for regular home-school-home transportation, while 19 allow them for curriculum-related trips, and 22 for non-curricular field or activity trips. Five states allow Full-size Vans to be used for regular home-school-home transportation, while 9 allow them for curriculum-related trips, and 10 for non-curricular field or activity trips. Three states allow Motor Coaches to be used for regular home-school-home transportation, while 18 allow them for curriculum-related trips, and 32 for non-curricular field or activity trips.

NASDPTS Survey on Vehicle Used Seventeen states allow Public Transit Buses to be used for regular home-school-home transportation, while 12 allow them for curriculum-related trips, and 12 for non-curricular field or activity trips. Twenty three states allow Passenger Cars, MPVs, or Light Trucks to be used for regular home-school-home transportation, while 26 allow them for curriculum- related trips, and 30 for non-curricular trips. The survey did not attempt to assess allowable use of different vehicle types by private individuals, such as parents, who are not operating their vehicles under the authority of a school or school district.

Home-School-Home Trips

Curricular Trips-NON Home-School- Home

Extracurricular Field and Activity Trips

Belts (here we go again?) NASDPTS released updated position Feb “The Equipping and Use of Passenger Lap/shoulder belts in School Buses” Considered findings and recommendations of NTSB on two 2012 school bus crashes, Chesterfield, NJ and Port St. Lucie, FL NTSB said, “Provide your members with educational materials on lap and shoulder belts providing the highest level of protection for school bus passengers, and advise states or school districts to consider this added safety benefit when purchasing seat belt-equipped school buses.”

NASDPTS Position “NASDPTS fully supports state and local decisions for the installation and use of lap/shoulder belts in school buses. NASDPTS is not advocating that the installation and/or use of lap/shoulder belts be required by state or local jurisdictions without thorough consideration of available resources.” “States and local jurisdictions should require proper usage by all students when belts are available and should provide related notices, training and enforcement.”

NASDPTS Position “NASDPTS is not advocating that the installation and/or use of lap-shoulder belts be required.” “NASDPTS believes this should be a local decision based on local need, but also believes lap/shoulder belt equipped seats should be encouraged as an option when considering new bus original equipment.” “Should a state or local district decide to equip their buses with lap-shoulder belts, NASDPTS believes a mandatory usage policy should also be in place along with necessary training on the importance of wearing and proper usage of the belts along with proper evacuation training.” “NASDPTS supports the NHTSA position that this local decision should not be done at the expense of students being displaced from school bus transportation.”

What’s NHTSA Up To? New Administrator, Dr. Mark Rosekind stated on January 30, 2015 that NHTSA will take another look at the issue of belts in large school buses. Dr. Rosekind spoke on ABC Good Morning America GMA; video segment is at: investigates-putting-seatbelts-school-buses- save-kids investigates-putting-seatbelts-school-buses- save-kids

Should Florida Readdress the Issue? FAPT Position Paper written in 2005, before availability of newer lap/shoulder belt technology Section and FL specs still require two-point lap belts Would Florida Legislature increase student transportation funding if L/S belts were the “carrot?” FAPT might want to take the lead, IMHO.

16 th NCST Murrell Martin, Western Regional Director, is NCST Steering Committee Chair 2015 Congress will mark 75 th anniversary of this unique and important process State delegations have been selected NASDPTS has submitted its “NTSB” changes

Des Moines or Bust! Florida’s delegation to the 16 th NCST will be led by Ronnie McCallister Writing Committees are finalizing proposals As it becomes available all information is being posted to

Other NASDPTS Activities Bob Riley left “big shoes to fill.” addresses the same; e.g., (Charlie Hood) New phone number: New address: 8205 Bristol Court, Tallahassee, FL Relatively seamless transition, although large learning curve Parent calls??? You bet!

Social Media

Media Contacts- Various responses to media inquiries, e.g.: Weather Channel interview re: Safety Week Philadelphia Inquirer response on school bus service cutbacks NPR Marketplace response on student data security Associated Press response on South Carolina photo enforcement School Bus Fleet and STN

4 th Annual Illegal Passing Survey Completed annually since 2011 to document incidence of this well known safety threat 2014 survey results: – 97K drivers in 29 states participated – 76K motorists illegally passed stopped buses

School Bus Manufacturers Technical Council SBMTC is meeting this week Issued response on June 19, 2014 to NTSB Safety Recommendation H-13-37, regarding seating systems integrity (from 2012 crashes in Chesterfield, NJ, and Port St. Lucie, FL) NTSB recommendation to ensure the structural integrity of the entire school bus seating and restraint system (primarily, lateral integrity of seat bottom cushion) SBMTC Response, in summary, was that it will request an update to the National School Transportation Specifications & Procedures for pre- and post-trip inspections of seat securement

ASBC Mission is to promote the importance of yellow school bus ridership, for safety, environmental benefits, and access to education Council meets 4 times per year Developed infographics, posters, other materials, and compiled data for NHTSA Tradeshow participation and Champions awards Love the Bus, Back to School Tour, and other activities with US Ed. Dept. and other agencies Weekly calls among NSTA, NAPT, NASDPTS, OEM

Position Papers Position issued in 2014 supporting consideration by states and LEAs of lap/shoulder belts in new buses NASDPTS will soon be reviewing and updating other existing reports, such as Student Transportation Security, Repair and Replacement of Components on School Buses, and others.

State and National Associations Council (SNAC) SNAC members are key partners with state directors and suppliers Primary conduit for important school bus safety information in many states Encourage SNAC to share NASDPTS resources with all their respective members back in their states

Supplier Council 64 Supplier Council member companies Key partners with state directors and the associations School Bus Manufacturers Technical Council (SBMTC) members (large and small school bus OEMs) continue to serve as a technical advisors and our “research arm” Suppliers routinely assist us with state specifications, training, and other areas

Federal Agencies Involvement EPA- DERA, including recently announced renewal of school bus rebate program at $3M NTSB- Continued positive partnership; following up on response to Chesterfield, NJ/Port St. Lucie crash recommendations FMCSA- National Registry; obstructive sleep apnea; drug and alcohol national clearinghouse, entry level driver training US Education Department

Federal Agencies Involvement Transportation Research Board- NASDPTS will again be represented at January meeting and involved in ongoing dialogue on importance of school bus mode, including new study of the history and state of school bus occupant protection NHTSA- Rear Impact Protection rulemaking (FR, ); study on effectiveness of photo enforcement camera systems for illegal passing; Office of Defects Investigation; motor coach rollover

Federal Agencies Involvement Transportation Security Administration- continued participation in security tele- conferences, School Transportation Security Awareness, School Bus First Observer, Security Action Items (SAIs), I-STEP (Intermodal Security Training Exercise Program), BASE (Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement), and Customer Security Reviews (CSRs)

Other Issues and Ideas Back-to-School- Sample safety tips and suggestions for activities Speaker Requests Calendar- Developing calendar for NASDPTS website on industry and state events Operation Lifesaver- Reviewing new e- learning module with other associations Safe Routes to School- Continued collaboration with National Partnership

NASDPTS Website Redesigned in 2010, subject based Updates and ongoing maintenance Working to improve members-only access

Thanks to you, our members— the state directors, associations like FAPT, and suppliers! Input? Suggestions? Comments? Questions?