Occupant Protection on School Buses Derek Graham Section Chief, Transportation Services NC Department of Public Instruction

The School Bus - It’s big, yellow and SAFE! Students sit high above the impact zone Many Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that are applicable only to school buses Passive occupant protection system known as compartmentalization Special equipment that is safety specific: Stop sign, warning lights, roof hatches, crossing arms, padded seats, and more

We’ve Come a Long Way!

Continuing Work on Occupant Protection Compartmentalization is most effective in frontal and rear collisions Risk of injury to students when they are ejected from the vehicle or otherwise leave the “compartment” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Report to Congress. Report shows that 3-point restraints perform best.

NHTSA TESTING - VIDEO

Report to Congress Students are nearly 8 times safer riding in a school bus than in cars - credit to compartmentalization Requiring lap belts on large school buses would have little, if any, benefit in reducing serious-to-fatal injuries ain severe frontal crashes Use of lap-shoulder belts could provide benefit if used properly

Testing - 3 Point Restraints 13 School Buses 11 Counties Digital Video Cameras

Results Good Feedback, esp. from drivers –reduced discipline problems When left to the students, the belts will not be worn…..esp. in High School / Middle School

To go to and from school, kids are safest when in a school bus! NON-CONFORMING VEHICLES –Federal law requires that any new SCHOOL BUS (a vehicle built to transport 11 or more passengers including the driver and used to transport students to school or school-related events) sold or leased by a dealer meet all FMVSS’s applicable to school buses In most places, there is no legal prohibition on BUYING or USING such a vehicle

VANS IN SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION Jacob Strebler died in a van crash in South Carolina School knowingly operated a less safe vehicle School and the selling dealer settled the case with the parents

National Transportation Safety Board Investigations Studied four fatal crashes Recommendations to each state: –Require that all vehicles transporting children to school and school related events meet school bus structural standards –Adopt NHTSA’s guidelines for the safe transportation of preschool children

Multi-Function School Activity Bus New Federal Classification of Vehicle School Bus Construction Standards Warning lights / Stop Sign not required

Transportation of Pre- Kindergarten Students On School Buses

National Highway Traffic Safety Admin. Guidelines Pre-K children should be transported in a Child Safety Restraint System (CSRS) CSRS’s must meet Federal Standards for Seats and Anchorages Most current bus seats in North Carolina don’t meet these specs es/Guide1999/prekfinal.htm

NHTSA GUIDELINES Each pre-school age child to be transported has a CSRS appropriate for the child’s weight, height, and age. The CSRS is used and secured correctly in the school bus. All CSRS attachment hardware, anchorage systems and school bus seats meet Federal requirements. Personnel are trained and pre-school age children are supervised acc. To their needs. School-bus seats designated for CSRSs are located starting at the front of the vehicle to provide drivers with quick access to and a clear view of the CSRS occupants.

NHTSA GUIDELINES (cont’d) CSRS anchorages on school bus seats should meet all applicable FMVSSs. When ordering new school buses, the maximum allowable seat spacing should be specified.. If other students share seats with the CSRSs, the CSRSs are placed in window seating position. When a school bus is retrofitted (per manufacturers instructions), the bus owner should ensure that seat spacing is sufficient for the CSRS to be used. There needs to be a written evacuation plan and evacuation drills need to be practiced regularly. CSRSs are not placed in school bus seats adjacent to emergency exits.

Child Safety Restraint Systems State Response 2000 & 2001 model replacement buses were equipped with Thomas Built Bus MOMS (mobile occupant mini seat) seats in first two rows.

Thomas Mobile Occupant Mini Seat (MOMS)

MOMS Standardized solution Initially thought to be the solution. Storing carriers presented problems, especially for multiple tripped buses when the carriers were not needed.

C.E. White CSRS

Other Child Safety Restraint Systems

Retro-fitting CSRS First 2 rows on 72, 66, and 53 passenger buses may be installed with CSRS without re-spacing the remainder of the seats. First row on 36 and 41 without re-spacing. No CSRS can be installed adjacent to emergency exit windows. If needed, you may move the window and associated decals to a position that is not blocked by a seat back.

Retrofitting Issues Most NC seats are not “210 Compliant” –Not certified to have lap belts installed –Tested for forces from one direction Seat Spacing Issues

New Head Start Transportation Guidelines

JANUARY 18, 2002 All vehicles must be equipped with communication equipment and emergency safety equipment and must undergo an annual safety inspection. (Licensed or state operated) All drivers must have a CDL, receive classroom and behind the wheel instruction, and be trained in first aid and emergency evacuation. Routing must be done to limit one-way trips to and from a Head Start program to a maximum of one hour.

JANUARY 20, 2004 At least one monitor per vehicle and more if required by passenger needs. All vehicles to be equipped with height- and weight-appropriate CSRSs and reverse beepers.

JANUARY 18, 2006 By 01/18/06, children to be transported to and from Head Start and Early Head Start programs on “school buses” or “allowable alternate vehicle” with CSRSs, reverse beeper, communication equipment and emergency equipment with signs

Transporting Pre-K Students Federal Guidelines Equipment Issues Head Start Guidelines IT”S A WHOLE DIFFERENT GAME!!

SECTION : CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Effective date: January 20, 2004;

SECTION : CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Each agency must ensure that each vehicle…is equipped for use of height- and weight-appropriate child safety restraint systems.

SECTION : REQUIRED USE OF SCHOOL BUSES OR ALLOWABLE ALTERNATE VEHICLES  (a)Effective January 18, 2006, any agency providing transportation services must ensure that school buses or allowable alternate vehicles are used, …

SECTION (cont’d)  …that they are equipped for use of height- and weight-appropriate child restraint systems and that they are equipped with reverse beepers. (Exception for home-based option is indicated.)

SECTION (cont’d.) (b)Effective February 20, 2001, each Head Start and Early Head Start agency receiving permission from HHS to purchase with grant funds a vehicle to be used to transport children in its program or its delegate agency’s program… HEAD START

SECTION (cont’d.) … must ensure that the funds are used to purchase a school bus or an allowable alternate vehicle that is equipped as described in the previous slides. HEAD START

SECTION : OPERATION OF VEHICLES (a)On a vehicle equipped for use of such devices, each child weighing 50 pounds or less is seated in a child restraint system appropriate to the height and weight of the child while the vehicle is in motion.

SECTION (cont’d) (b)Baggage and other items transported in the passenger compartment must be properly stored and secured; aisles must remain clear; doors and emergency exits must remain unobstructed at all times.

SECTION (cont’d) (f)Each agency providing transportation services must ensure that: (1)annual observation of each driver includes an on-board observation of road performance;

SECTION (cont’d) (2)monitors are “pre-trained” on child boarding and exiting procedures, use of child restraint systems, required paperwork, responses to emergencies, emergency evacuation procedures, use of special equipment, child pick-up and release procedures and pre-and post-trip vehicle check.

SECTION : TRIP ROUTING (a)Ensure safety of children is primary consideration in planning fixed routes; (b)Adhere to the following basic principles:

SECTION (cont’d) (1)One-hour maximum ride-time unless no shorter route is available or a shorter route is unsafe; (2)No overloads;

SECTION : SAFETY EDUCATI0N (a)Provide training in pedestrian safety for parents and children within the first 30 days of the program year. (b)Ensure that children are taught:

SECTION (cont’d) (1)safe riding practices; (2)safe loading/unloading procedures; (3)safe roadway crossing to and from the vehicle at stops;

SECTION (cont’d) (4)Recognition of the danger zones around the vehicle; (5)Emergency evacuation procedures, including drills in the vehicle the children will be riding;

SECTION (cont’d) (c)Provide training for parents that: (1)emphasizes the importance of escorting their children to the vehicle stop and reinforcing training children receive regarding vehicle safety; and

SECTION (cont’d) (2)complements training provided to children for reinforcement both in Head Start and at home by the parent.

SECTION (cont’d) (d)Ensure at least two (2) vehicle evacuation drills (in addition to one required in paragraph (b) (5) of this section) during the program year.

SECTION : CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES (a)Effective January 18, 2006, ensure that school buses or allowable alternate vehicles adapted or designed for transporting children with disabilities are available as necessary.

SECTION (cont’d) Note B: Whenever possible, children with disabilities must be transported in the same vehicles as are non- disabled peers.

SECTION (cont’d) (b)Ensure compliance with ADA, HHS regulations at 45 CFR part 84 and Head Start Program Performance Standards on Services for Children with Disabilities as they apply to transportation services.