Can you spot the student in the mirror? View this image but from the just behind the driver’s perspective on page 26.
duced Thomas Built Buses auto-reversing door feature, available on all Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses. The front entry doors reopen automati- cally if an object or obstruction is detected in the doorway. While in operation, an audible alarm will sound and the doors will reverse motion to return to the fully open position. “While this new feature does not replace the
need for drivers to be aware at all times, it is one more tool to assist in making sure that school buses remain the safest form of transportation to and from school,” noted Caley Edgerly, who at the time was Thomas Built Buses president and CEO. In the event of damage or environmental factors
such as snow in the stepwell, the auto-reversing door system is equipped with a manual bypass option that disables the obstruction detection, enabling the driver to complete their bus route. Disabling the auto-reverse feature does not pre-
vent normal operation of the entrance door. Kenneth Whisnant, engineering manager for
mechatronics at Thomas Built Buses, said that while any incidents involving the front entrance door are “very rare,” the auto-reversing door feature is one more tool to help school bus drivers in their
Oversight agencies responsible for data collection
of school bus crashes and incidents should consider a checkbox on their state accident reporting forms for student draggings and require operators to re- port these events, advised Lawrence. “If we are not actively measuring these draggings,
we cannot truly know the scope of these occurring,” he shared. “I fear our industry will react to these needless draggings when a tipping point occurs, as you can only get so lucky for so long when it comes to near misses that then become fatalities.” The problem is exacerbated by the national driver
shortage, he said “We are asking our veteran and new school bus
drivers to combine routes to pick up or drop off students who are late due to a shortage of staff,” Lawrence pointed out. “Most school bus drivers are hardwired to want to be on time. Despite our culture of promoting ‘Safety First, Schedule Second,’ some drivers feel the pressure and end up rushing de- spite knowing better.” One of the newest solutions is the recently intro-
daily tasks. The industry response to the auto-reversing door has been overwhelmingly positive, suggested Whis- nant, adding that it provides an additional layer of protection in and around the entrance door. “We see this feature as having a tremendously
positive impact and eventually being widely adopted throughout the industry,” he said. Some districts are now piloting the technology. Whisnant said he expects they will be ordering it for all buses in the future. Last winter at the rescheduled STN EXPO Reno,
Intermotive displayed for the first time its Student Transportation Off-boarding Protection Systems, also known as SafeSTOPS. An ultrasonic sensor bar can be retrofitted on any bus below the front loading doors to detect objects that are present in the area. and alert the bus driver with an alarm. Add-on op- tions include auto-reversing doors upon detecting an obstacle, a shift lock to prevent vehicle motion, and a heater to keep the sensors cleared in colder weather.
24 School Transportation News • SEPTEMBER 2022
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