seat belt with a buzzer. After a low-voltage buzzer and light was
installed on the dash, the driver was made very aware that the park brake was not engaged after unlatching the seat belt. In- spectors from the Indiana State Police and the Department of Transportation approved the change since it did not interfere with safety functions on the bus. Michael LaRo- cco, state director of school transportation at the Indiana Department of Education, also approved the retrofit as a useful safety device and allowed it to be installed in all Indiana state school buses. “Tere is no substitute for the proper
training and awareness of competent school bus drivers; however, school bus drivers are human and do make mistakes,” said LaRo- cco. “Te safety retrofit being implemented by Fort Wayne Community Schools adds that one extra safety factor to counteract the possibility of human mistakes.” Lake said the school district intends to
convert its entire fleet with the parts that cost $355 per retrofit. He added that the goal to encourage bus manufacturers to in-
clude this safety alert system on new buses is still a work in process. “Because safety is the mantra of our
profession, it makes sense that we equip our buses in any way we can to reduce the risk of harm to others,” Lake added. “It is my hope that the bus manufacturers see this simple modification as an easy adaption and ultimately make it standard equipment. It is interesting to note that our drivers are asking for the new seat-belt warning device to be installed in their buses as quickly as possible. Tey understand the value and benefit of safe operation.”
STARTING THE PROCESS OF AIR- BRAKE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
School bus drivers are the first line of de-
fense in many ways, especially when it comes to air-brake system preventive maintenance. Te pre-trip and post-trip inspection was developed for obvious reasons — to spot a problem before leaving the bus yard. A visual inspection and a thorough
air-system operational check are simple, stationary tasks that can alert the driver to
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a problem. Once on the road, the driver can also report foundation brake problems tied to brake performance, unusual noises and air-system abnormalities. In the garage, problems should first be documented, and then the shop technicians take over and repair the problem. Of course, the process doesn’t end there. With any fleet of buses, the preventive maintenance process funnels through a regular maintenance pro- gram, which starts with scheduled servicing. While on the hoist or lift, technicians get a good close-up look at the foundation brakes. Te drums, linings and automatic slack adjusters can be inspected properly for wear and adjustment. Te technician can also check the
foundation brakes and air system for proper operation. On top of servicing, there is a strict guideline on school bus motor vehicle inspections. Depending on what state a school district is located in, the district must follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMVSA) regulations. »
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