According to findings from a 2009 study on driver behavior conducted by the University of Mich- igan Transportation Research Institute, school bus drivers had the lowest rate of driver errors and the best driving record in terms of previous crashes and traffic violations. But, this doesn’t mean they should rest on their laurels, and transportation directors are making sure their drivers remain at the top of their game.
You Could Be a Star! In this age of miniaturized technology, more
and more people are always carrying some type of recording device. Going beyond the cameras that are installed in a number of buses all over the country, the real eyes on drivers come from be- hind — students. And many of these riders have cell phones that have the ability to record both video and sound. “We’re not like truckers that are hauling pota-
toes out of Idaho; the eyes on board our vehicles really can see and report the facts back,” said Peter Pantuso, president and CEO of the American Bus Association (ABA). But, this is not a new phenomenon that has been brought on by the attention that the issue of distracted driving has gotten recently, especially in light of the proposed rule announced last month that would pro- hibit texting by interstate bus
drivers and would amend federal CDL regulations to make such a behavior a disqualifying offense. Tose eyes watching bus driver behavior have always been there. Now, riders can just start recording and within min- utes upload video to Web sites like YouTube, making the faulty driver an (unwanted) Internet star. “It’s almost impossible to get away with any improper behavior, regardless of where that may take place,” added Pantuso.
Hands-On Supervision Other times, that pair of eyes watching the driver
belong to the department supervisor. On-board observations keep drivers on their toes and trans- portation directors updated on the driving abilities and deficiencies of his or her staff. In order to pro- tect not only the children and motoring public, but also keep his staff free of liability issues and costs down, Transportation Specialist Jack Marchetti
rides along to observe both the driver and the monitor on board his Child Start Inc., buses. But, it’s not the case of “big bother” watching your every move, it’s about setting an example to others, ac- cording to Walter Prothro. “Tey are a school district’s direct representa-
tive to the public during the times of the day that the public is also driving to and from work. Tey must set the example for everyone, including the citizens we serve, on proper driving and courtesy,” said Prothro.
‘How’s My Driving?’ We’ve all seen the stickers on any number of
big rigs, delivery trucks and airport shuttles, but the general public only needs a bus number and school district name to make the same call on a school bus driver. In Nye County, Nev., Direc- tor of Transportation Cameron McRae receives “Bus Concern” reports from not only students and parents but also from citizens in the com- munity. The results are used to improve driver accountability. “It may give us a heads up on something that
could create a ‘risk’ management issue,” said McRae, who also relies on DVR video reviews when a concern or issue is brought to his attention. “It promotes bus safety.” To balance out the good with the bad, Neal
Abramson, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s director of transportation, keeps a log of both positive and negative comments received from parents, teachers, and so on, regarding driver behavior. He then holds meetings to practice pro- gressive discipline when necessary, depending on the severity of the complaint. “It is important to track how drivers are perform-
ing in order to see where our deficiencies in training are or where there is a lack of communication on a policy,” added Don West, terminal manager for Rockford Public Schools 205 in northern Illinois. “We know that community perception is a big part of the attitude towards drivers, so we try to main- tain a positive image.”
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