SPECIAL REPORT
six months behind the wheel. Te first step deals with how to describe speed, which Fischer explained is more effective if translated from miles per hour to feet per second. Tis gives drivers a more visual explanation of what happens when the driver must hit the brakes too quickly to slow or completely stop a school bus. By calculating some simple math, you can quickly deter-
mine how far you drive by the second. For example, when driving 30 mph, take the amount of feet in a mile (5,280 feet), multiply it by 30 (mph), then divide it by 60 (minutes). Then, divide that figure by 60 (seconds) to determine how many feet are driven in one second. In this case, it would work out to 44 feet per second. But that is not the only problem when it comes to how many
drivers perform while on activity or athletic trips, said Fischer, who also cited driving distances as a major issue. “Most drivers think the rear bumper has a magnet on it and
they should drive close to it so they can hit the magnet,” he joked. He used to preach to his drivers to use a 500-foot interval between buses or the seven second rule. “When I used to drive, I would always request the last bus, that way no one was tailgating me.”
HABITS CAN HELP For Cathy Erwin, transportation director at Creighton School
District No. 14 in Phoenix, the habitual nature of day-to-day school bus routes can actually deter the possibility of a crash. Te drivers are familiar with their scheduled routes, the local traffic patterns and their students. “Tis affords most a better sense of comfort ability and ease
within the commute, both on the part of the driver and the students,” explained Erwin. “All around familiarity lessens the chances of an accident.” Dropping a school bus onto a freeway changes those dynam-
ics. Instantly, there is a greater potential for an accident with the addition of more vehicles and higher speeds compared to sur- face streets. Tis alone, according to Erwin, could be a reason for concern and could possibly be a contributing factor to activity trip accidents. Like Fischer, Erwin said she believes all drivers require some
behind the wheel time under their belt before being assigned long-distance activity trips. And when it comes time for drivers to perform this duty, Erwin gives them an opportunity to do a dry run. “I want my drivers to be comfortable behind the wheel of a
40-foot bus, be well versed in the rules and laws governing pupil transportation and have the experience of driving with kiddos
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