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New Bus Driver Training

Unit 4.1

Student Loading & Unloading

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School Bus Loading and Unloading

Younger students are simply smaller and harder to see. Additionally, younger students are inexperienced and impulsive. For example, they may dart across the street to greet a pet or a family member when coming home without looking for the safe-to-cross signal.�

During the past 48 years of collected data, 73% of fatalities occurred for students 9 years of age and under. Furthermore, 40% are ages 6 and under.

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School Bus Loading and Unloading

Students have been sitting quietly all day and now they're ready to move and are less likely to pay attention. At the same time, people are trying to get home and are in a rush. This can make for a deadly combination.�

During the past 48 years, just over 64% of fatalities occurred on the trip home.

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Critical Things to Do

Don’t Rush
Expect the unexpected
Assume the worst of motorists
Adjust your mirrors correctly
Stop the bus properly
Use consistent signals

Give the signal to cross
Count and recount
Never move the bus if students are in the danger zone
Back up only when absolutely necessary
Don’t deal with on-bus problems when loading and unloading

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STUDENT LOADING & DISCHARGE

Loading and Unloading Students

Students are at Greatest risk of death or injury when entering/exiting bus.
Driver’s blind spots are directly in front, behind and along the sides of the school bus.

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STUDENT LOADING & UNLOADING

All areas around the bus where the driver’s vision is blocked from seeing students/passengers.

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STUDENT LOADING & UNLOADING

Loading and Unloading Students

Statistically, injuries and fatalities are more likely related to their own school bus.
Occur while students are entering or exiting the school bus.

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NATIONAL STATISTICS

Between 2009 and 2018, 1,207 people died in school transportation related crashes; an average of 121 deaths per year.
Occupants of passenger vehicles accounted for 70% of fatalities in school bus crashes.
Of the 1,207 people killed, 249 (20.6%) were school age, which NHTSA defines as age 18 or younger.
Forty one percent (102) of school age fatalities occurred between 6am and 8:59am. Another 40% (100) occurred between 2pm and 4:59pm.
Driver’s blind spots are directly in front, behind and along the sides of the school bus.

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STUDENT LOADING & UNLOADING

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STUDENT LOADING & UNLOADING

Bus driver has two (2) responsibilities:

1. Observe traffic

2. Observe student movement

Areas selected for loading and unloading should have at least 500’ visibility in either direction.

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STUDENT LOADING & UNLOADING

Students should remain on the right side and at least 10’ in front of the bus.
Students should then wait for further instructions from the driver.

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Signaling

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STUDENT LOADING & UNLOADING

Driver should NEVER extend hand signal outside of bus.
Hand signals outside of bus could confuse motorists.

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STUDENT LOADING & UNLOADING

Visual searches are essential.
Use all mirrors (including crossover mirrors)
Check service doors

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STUDENT LOADING & UNLOADING

15 Step Process

Start Amber Warning Lights 300’ – 100’
Activate right turn signal
Pull to the right a safe distance
Set Parking brake, then shift to Neutral
Deactivate turn signal

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STUDENT LOADING & DISCHARGE

15 Step Process

Conduct visual search (traffic and students)
Activate RED loading lights
Conduct visual search (traffic and students)
Open service doors
Conduct visual search, then direct students onto bus/off bus/across roadway

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STUDENT LOADING & DISCHARGE

15 Step Process

Close service door & extinguish RED loading lights
Select appropriate gear, then release parking brake
Conduct visual search (traffic and students)
Activate left turn signal
Conduct visual search (Students, crossover mirrors, door, traffic). Proceed into traffic when safe

Close the service doors. On most buses the red loading lights will extinguish when the doors are close. If you are equipped with a manual switch to turn your off you will need to deactivate it.
Select the appropriate gear. Then, release the Parking Brake (Remember “On First, Off Last”)
Conduct a Visual Search. The driver is checking for students approaching the bus, traffic passing the bus and students in the danger zones.
Activate left turn signal.
Conduct Visual Search. When clear, pull onto the roadway. The driver is mainly checking for traffic to ensure that it is safe to continue down the roadway. However, it is also important to check again for approaching students or students in the danger zones of the bus. Also, don’t forget to check your door one final time to ensure no students are caught in the door area.

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STUDENT LOADING & DISCHARGE

15 Step Process is used for loading and discharging students.
Visual Searches are essential!!!

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STUDENT LOADING & UNLOADING

AMBER warning lights and RED loading lights shall only be used for loading and discharging students.
When RED loading lights are activated, vehicles traveling on the same roadway must stop until the loading lights are no longer illuminated.

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STUDENT LOADING & UNLOADING

Keep in Mind

The Parking brake MUST be set during loading and unloading
Check your loading doors and cross-view mirrors during visual searches
Remember tail-swing is 3’

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SET PARKING BRAKE

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Two Lane Roadway

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Two Lane Roadway W/Center Turning Lane

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Four Lane Roadway WO Median

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Divided Highway W/Median Separation

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Insert Trainer Info Here

Oklahoma State Department of Education

Pupil Transportation

Kim Hale or Mat Luse

405-360-5351 or 405-227-3958

kimberly.hale@sde.ok.gov or mat.luse@sde.ok.gov

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