Department of Transportation. During physical examinations, “We do attempt to educate drivers on the new guidelines and stress the importance of keeping themselves as healthy as possible or it may put future certifications in jeopar- dy,” said Veeder, She mentioned that this sedentary lifestyle is also a contributing factor to the growth of obesity among Americans. A recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control found that 35 percent of adults are considered obese, and researchers discovered that due to the expanding waist- lines in this country, lifespans are declining. “Te negative effects of sitting are nu-
merous: Decreased metabolic rate leading to weight gain and muscle wasting; poor posture leading to chronic neck/back/ shoulder pain; decreased circulation, espe- cially to the legs; insulin resistance leading to diabetes, heart disease,” said Veeder.
“In regards to health and fitness affecting
a driver’s ability to perform their duties, good health and being fit is essential to their duties,” said Christensen. “A driv- er needs to be fit in the event there’s an emergency and they have to get the kids off the bus as there usually is not a great deal of time to work with, and the more fit and capable a school bus driver is, the better the chance of a successful evacuation.” Distracted driving is not just a result of health problems. Outside troubles can impair the ability to transport kids safely. Christensen listed a litany of factors that could hinder driving for both bus drivers and other motorists on the road, most of them centered on cell phone use, such as texting and talking. But there are plenty of other distractions inside vehicles. Bus drivers, specifically, encounter countless distractions that range from the kids on the bus to two-way radios, on
“Distracted driving is one of the most frightening
issues we face.” - Max Christensen, Iowa DOE
other words, the longer a human being remains in the sitting position, the higher the risk of premature death, especially if you remain still for more than five hours a day. “People are becoming more aware of the dangers of sitting thanks to recent studies implicating that extended periods of sitting are as dangerous to one’s health as smoking,” said Allison Veeder, an advanced practice registered nurse who examines school bus drivers. Veeder works at Lawrence Memorial
Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas, and has been examining drivers for a variety of potential ailments that could hinder their abilities to manage a school bus. She works with the guidelines presented by state and federal agencies, like the U.S.
Te UK medical journal Lancet released
a new study last month that examined the surge of diabetic adults across the globe. By 2025, the research estimates the number of people diagnosed with diabetes to be 700 million, a staggering increase of 548 percent from the 108 million people with diabetes in 1980. Te study places the blame on the rise of the sedentary lifestyle. Health problems can lead to a number of personal issues; however, these concerns can also be dangerous, as they can potentially distract the driver from his or her duties. “Distracted driving is one of the most fright- ening issues we face,” said Max Christensen, the Iowa state director of transportation and a former president of NASDPTS.
top of the issues posed by cell phone use. Christensen mentioned that it is illegal to text while operation a motor vehicle in Iowa, especially for those holding a CDL. Te same holds true for many other states or at least local municipalities. “Tere are very strict rules in regards to school bus drivers and use of cell phones, to which most school bus drivers obey,” said Christensen. “If a school bus driver can’t stay off their phone during the short time needed for running a bus route, they really shouldn’t be entrusted with the lives of the kids on that bus.” Tese are issues that require disciplinary actions. For drivers who are caught tex- ting, Christensen said, “It’s typically a ‘one
www.stnonline.com 61
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
