DISTRACTED DRIVER Ben Shew Executive Director Office of School Transportation WV Department of Education

Safety is Our Business  Driver Responsibilities o School Bus is safe Pre-trip Post-trip o Bus Operator is safe Well Trained Physically Fit Mentally Alert

Safe Operators  This year we had no student deaths  Fewer serious accidents  Nationally there is a concern about distracted driving  Distracted Driving includes: Use of electronic devices Eating and drinking Conversations Fatigue

Distracted Driving  Cell phone and other electronic communication devices  Cell phone usage while driving are being compared to DUI  Policy Cellular Phones  The use of cellular phones or other portable electronic devices – even those equipped with hands-free devices – while driving is prohibited  The use of cellular phones while supervising the loading and unloading of students is prohibited.  If communication with the Transportation Department is necessary, the bus must be stopped.

NASDPTS "ALERT Drivers Act" Support Letter

Distracted Driving  Driver fatigue  Policy Be eligible to operate a school bus without a minimum of six (6) consecutive hours of off duty time, for proper rest between the conclusion of the previous day’s regularly scheduled afternoon run and immediately prior to the beginning of the next day’s regularly scheduled morning run. Also: 14.2.a. More than 10 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty; or 14.2.b. For any period after having been on duty 15 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty 14.2.c. No school bus operator shall drive a passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicle, regardless of the number of motor carriers using the driver's services, for any period after: 14.2.c.1. Having been on duty 60 hours in any 7 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier does not operate commercial motor vehicles every day of the week; or 14.2.c.2. Having been on duty 70 hours in any period of 8 consecutive days if the employing motor carrier operates commercial motor vehicles every day of the week.

Driver Fatigue  National Transportation Board(NTSB)  “Fatigue can impair a person behind a wheel much like alcohol or other drugs. We must ensure that as much as possible is being done to protect our transportation system from the insidious effect of human fatigue.”  Fatigue Quiz (True or False) Coffee overcomes effects of drowsiness I can tell when I’m going to sleep Rolling down the window or singing will keep me awake You can stockpile sleep on the weekends Most adults need only 5 hours of sleep A microsleep lasts 2 seconds

Driver Fatigue  Crash Characteristics  They occur normally at night or mid-afternoon  Crash likely to be serious  Driver does not try to avoid crash  Crash occurs on high-speed roadway Risks for Drowsy-Driving Crashes  Sleep Loss – 7 to 8 hours of sleep  Driving patterns – Changes in normal habit, 3 hrs. or more driving increases risk.  Use of sedating meds – Meds have been provided to counties  Untreated sleep disorders – sleep apnea and narcolepsy  Alcohol – 20 % of fall-asleep crashes involve alcohol

Driver Fatigue  Sleepiness Impairs Performance  Slower reaction time Even small decrements in reaction time can have a profound effect on crash risk, particularly at high speeds  Reduced vigilance Performance declines, including increased periods on non- responding or delayed responding  Deficits in information processing Processing and integration info takes longer, the accuracy of short-term memory decreases and performance declines

Driver Fatigue  Behavioral Interventions  15 to 20 minute nap  Consuming caffeine – min. 2 cups only effective for a short time  Physical discomfort

Kanawha County School Bus Driver wins 3 rd place in US School Bus Roadeo Billy Wiseman receiving award for 3 rd in the country