News School districts that have access to school bus simulators sing their praises and point to im-
proved driver awareness. Tose that do not have access put simulators near the top of their driver training wish list. Laura Carter, transportation director for the Greenville ISD in Texas, praised the sim- ulator for its stark realism and the impact it has on driver performance. Carter said she took the simulator training and hit a bicyclist. Other experienced drivers did, too. “We had a male driver start crying after he hit the bicycle rider,” she said. “Tat was out of character for him, but it hit home that this could really happen. We had several drivers that got very emotional. It’s so realistic.”
Guaranteed not to miss the bus for 7 years.
Available now as a dealer-installed option. DurA-Tek®
brushless, seal-less booster pumps are the perfect replacements for
conventional pumps. They’re compact, easy to install, and maintenance-free. These pumps resist salt, shock, vibration, and more. DurA-Tek®
features our
40,000-hour-life design and a warranty for up to seven years.* Built and backed by ROTRON—the brand bus and transit system fleets have trusted for more than 30 years. Get on board!
See us at the NAPT Trade Show, booth 616
Carter said that after some initial com- plaints, the drivers realized the importance of the simulations. “I had a lot of positive comments from drivers who said they were more conscientious and observant af- terward. It caused them to take the safety as- pect of their job more seriously and proved to be very beneficial.” Carter, who uses GPS and cameras inside her buses to pull telematics, added that she was concerned that too much technology could lead to driver complacency. “With some of the technology that is being offered to us I fear bus drivers might become too dependent on technology and less dependent on their training,” she said. “I can see the benefit, but also there can be some detriment. Te simulator training was definitely a win-win.” Doris Bean, transportation manager for
the Glendale Elementary School District in Arizona is a technology disciple. “We have so many antennas on our buses, they look like porcupines coming down the road,” Bean quipped. “Te technology does take extra time in training.” Bean said internet connections are
required to do any work in the district. She said everything from pre-trip reports to student conduct reports are performed elec- tronically. ““You can’t get a job here unless you are familiar with the internet,” she said. “When you get a job, you get an email ad- dress and you’re responsible for maintaining your password.” Bean said the simulator has improved her
Visit us on the web at
www.ametekdfs.com.
*When installed in new buses; otherwise, three years as replacement. © 2017 by AMETEK Inc. All rights reserved.
drivers’ behind-the-wheel skills because of the various scenarios and driving conditions it throws at them. “When you drive a school bus you don’t want to get comfortable because that’s when accidents happen,” Bean said. “Te simulator wakes them up and makes them get out of that daily routine.” Barry Firlotte, a driver/trainer in the Anglophone North School District in New Brunswick, Canada, said his district cannot afford a simulator. But having one would make his life easier. “I think it would help weed out those that just don’t have it before we get on the road,” Firlotte said. We hire people that maybe have driven a VW bus, and then they switch to a 38-foot bus. It can be pretty nerve-racking sometimes. Tere’s a lot of rural driving here though, which is good, I guess.”
34 School Transportation News • OCTOBER 2017
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