School Bus Safety Assessment Program Overview
This content provides an overview of a school bus safety assessment program aimed at improving driver performance and ensuring the safety of students at bus stops. It emphasizes the importance of annual assessments, pre-assessment orientations, on-board observations, and post-observation conferences. The program's purpose is to enhance bus stop safety by identifying and resolving any issues related to bus stop locations, bus driver duties, and student behaviors. Detailed guidance on conducting assessments, promoting driver understanding, and implementing remediation measures is included.
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National School Bus Loading And Unloading Survey 2009-2010 = 5 GA Bus Stop Fatalities 2010-2011 = 2 GA Bus Stop Fatalities 2011-2012 = 2 GA Bus Stop Fatalities 2012-2013 = 2 GA Bus Stop Fatalities Georgia has Led the Nation for 3 Consecutive Years 3
Are Your School Bus Stops Safe? What can you do to know your stops are safe? Pupil Transportation Records Assessment Section 3, item F Annual on-board skill assessment is administered GaDOE has not previously provided Specific forms or Defined on-board assessment process GaDOE Annual Bus Stop Driver Assessment provided on 12/17/12 Complete tool to score yourself and reverse trend of student fatalities 4
Purpose Improve driver performance & learning Drivers should be treated as professionals Purpose is to help them Not a threatening or gotcha process Use annual assessment to improve bus stop safety Identify and resolve any issues with: 1. Safety of bus stop locations 2. Bus drivers carrying out required duties 3. Students executing essential safe behaviors 5
Brief Overview Pre-Assessment Orientation Inform drivers on Areas and items to be observed & assessed On-Board Observation Ride Good score = Official assessment of record Poor score = Extended phase with remediation To be followed w/another assessment observat. Post Observation Conference Required after each extended phase Required after some satisfactory assessments w/limited issues 6
Pre-Assessment Orientation 7
Pre-Assessment Orientation Roll out to drivers is critical. They must . . . Not be caught off guard Not be seen as threatening Not be seen as gotcha process Everyone wants the same thing Students to be safe at bus stop and when loading & unloading Fatality history has taught what is required Meet with drivers prior to their assessment Promote driver understanding to get buy-in Essential to success 8
Pre-Assessment Orientation Cont'd You want your drivers to understand The overall process The scoring guidelines The forms that will be used Provide a copy of the Loading & Unloading scoring forms Ensure drivers have the new Unit 6 Internet http://www.gadoe.org/Finance-and- Business-Operations/Pupil- Transportation/Pages/School-Bus-Safety.aspx Or provide an actual printed copy 9
On-Board Assessment Observation Ride 10
On-Board Assessment Observation Ride You decide who performs ride You Supervisor Trainer Lead bus driver, etc. Whatever works Find a way! Can be either a morning or afternoon load If AM this year, then maybe PM next year Ride multiple loads if possible in AM or PM Ride Get off @ school Ride different load11
On-Board Assessment Observation Ride Cont'd Overall Satisfactory score = Official assessment of record Failure to score overall Satisfactory Extended Phase period Post observation conference Related remedial training Follow-up assessment observation(s) Until driver scores overall Satisfactory Overall Satisfactory score = Becomes official assessment of record 12
Post Observation Conference 13
Post Observation Conference NOT required If driver scores Satisfactory on ALL items IS required to provide clarity & direction If driver has up to 2 Developing scores in area Driver was really good, but not quite perfect Discuss items needing attention If driver scores poorly Extended Phase Discuss area(s) & item(s) needing improvement Clarify what remedial training will be provided Discuss time frame for corrections 14
Scoring Key 15
Key for Scoring Items Place check mark in appropriate space Use N/A as needed Use this key in making scoring decisions: Satisfactory = Meets or exceeds expectations They got it right Developing = Overall meets expectations with limited exceptions They got it right most of the time Needs Improvement = Does not meet expectations They got it wrong 16
Scoring for Bus Stop Requirements/ Recommendations 17
Sample Bus Stop Requirements/Recommendations AREAS & ITEMS BUS STOP REQUIREMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS (**= Use in Driv. Assess.) Can be seen for at least 300 feet-Where Possible (Room for vehicles to stop) Sufficient room for students to wait 12 feet off roadway - Where Possible **Students do not cross more than 2 lanes **Not located within 30 feet of stop sign or traffic control signal **Not located directly in a cul-de-sac Allows bus driver to use far right lane Allows bus driver to stop short - keeping students in direct view **Loads students before backing at turn around (if applicable) LIST ANY BUS STOPS NEEDING REVIEW: 18
Scoring Bus Stop Requirements/Recommendations Items are based on New Unit 6 material Some items not responsibility of driver Only items with **count towards driver s score Needs Improvement score for bus stop items Resolved by Transportation Office Adjust stop, if possible, to improve safety There will be no Developing scores Only Satisfactory or Needs Improvement 19
Evaluator Instructions - Place a check in each appropriate space or use N/A as appropriate. Needs Improve- ment Sample Driver Duties AREAS & ITEMS LOADING (DRIVER DUTIES) [* = Recommended] Taps/flashes brakes Slows and scans for safety issues Activates ambers at least 200 feet prior Checks mirrors for traffic & potential hazards Utilizes care keeping 12 feet separation from students Stops smoothly & fully in far right lane of road (to include decel lane) Stops so students come towards bus from the front (1) Sets parking brake & (2) *Places transmission in neutral Once stopped, opens door to activate red flashing lights Makes sure ALL traffic has stopped Uses eye contact & hand signal for crossing students (standing 12 feet off road) Counts, recounts, & accounts for all students Ensures everyone is safely on board & seated, then closes door Foot on brake - (1) *Shifts from neutral to drive (2) Releases parking brake Checks mirrors before & as pulling away Satis- factory Develop- ing 21
Scoring Driver Duties Items are based on New Unit 6 material What is the driver doing As they approach the stop? When loading or unloading? When leaving the stop? Score all items in this area Use N/A as needed Use the Scoring Criteria Guide provided 22
Sample Scoring Criteria Guide for Driver Duties LOADING (DRIVER DUTIES) 1. Taps/flashes brakes - Applied brakes early and hard enough to light up the brake lights (so vehicles behind had a warning a stop was about to take place) 2. Slows and scans for safety issues - Started slowing down in preparation for the stop - Scanned for safety issues and any unusual circumstance 3. Activates ambers at least 200 feet prior - Activated eight-ways at a sufficient distance to warn other motorists of upcoming stop - Activated ambers even if no student was present 23
Scoring for Student Safe Behaviors 24
Sample Student Safe Behaviors AREAS & ITEMS LOADING FROM THE DOOR SIDE (STUDENT SAFE BEHAVIORS) All items are packed (in book bag, etc.) No use of ear buds, headphones, etc. Stays on their side of road Waits 12 feet from edge of road - Where Possible Waits for bus to stop & door to open Waits for moving traffic to stop Looks for moving cars while walking straight towards door Stays in direct view of driver (away from front & rear bus tires) Boards the bus directly without delay Uses handrail & goes directly to a seat 25
Scoring Student Safe Behaviors Items are based on New Unit 6 & School Bus Safety Curriculum Students must execute safe behaviors School Bus Safety Curriculum may or may not be taught in schools Bus driver is teacher, enforcer & reinforcer See and know what students are doing Have duty to ensure students are safe Evaluate driver on Student Safe Behaviors Only if on route/load for 4 weeks Need time to train students 26
Sample Overall Assessment Score 0VERALL ASSESSMENT SCORE - Place a check in the appropriate space. Satisfactory _____ Extended Phase (Remediation W/Follow-Up Assess.) _____ Unsatisfactory _____ Assessor's Name (Print)__________________________________________________ Assessor's Signature__________________________________________________ Bus Driver's Signature___________________________________________________ Driver's signature indicates the assessment was performed. It does not indicate agreement. 28
Overall Assessment Score Satisfactory School Bus Driver Assessment Recommended overall Satisfactory score = Becomes official assessment of record No Needs improvementscores at all or Up to 2 Developingscores in same area (Up to 2 in any or all of 3 areas) = Driver Duties Student Safe Behaviors Door Side Student Safe Behaviors Across the Road Detailed guidance at Post Observation Conference 29
Overall Assessment Score Cont'd Extended Phase Assessment Observation Recommended Extended Phase = 3 or more Developingscores in same area 1 or more Needs Improvement scores in any area Becomes informal diagnostic assessment Detailed guidance at Post Observation Conf. Followed by related remedial instruction/training Followed by another assessment observation Repeat process until Satisfactory is achieved Final successful assessment becomes official assessment of record 30
Overall Assessment Score Cont'd Unsatisfactory School Bus Driver Assess. Recommend overall Unsatisfactory score ONLY if driver fails to remediate in Extended Phase after repeated attempts School system decides how many attempts to retrain, rescore, etc. Becomes official assessment of record Pressure is on you to rehabilitate the driver Stakes are high for driver and for school system So after exhausting all effort . . . Can you keep an Unsatisfactory driver? 31
Summary You have been provided the resources required to help protect your students School Bus Safety Curriculum Elementary school Middle school New Unit 6 Loading & Unloading Power Point and narrative for new Unit 6 Annual Bus Stop Driver Assessment Instructions & defined process Required forms This PPT to use in training your staff 32
